Maputo — Mozambique’s Minister of the Interior, Alberto Mondlane, on Monday declared that he was satisfied with the response of the police force to the most recent spate of kidnappings in Maputo.

Mondlane was speaking immediately after a meeting with the Mayor of Maputo, David Simango, at the start of a working visit by the Minister to the city.

“The level of knowledge and of proof that the police have obtained in these cases leaves me satisfied and tranquil”, he said. “It shows that the police are on the track of organised crime in this country”.

But Mondlane insisted that the police must continue working with the same tenacity so as to avoid any further cases of kidnapping.

His remarks followed the arrest of a group of seven alleged kidnappers, announced by the police last week. The police also showed reporters three properties in outlying Maputo neighbourhoods, where the kidnap gangs are believed to have held their victims.

Mondlane stressed that during his tour of the city, he hoped to see the success of the efforts made by the police force in order to guarantee public order and tranquility in Maputo.

“Despite the attacks of criminals in our city, the police have been able to respond”, he declared. “That’s why we’ve come here to see the conditions under which people on the front line against crime are working, and to see what we can do to strengthen this capacity”.

On Monday morning, Mondlane met not only with the Maputo City Police Command, but also with the Fire Brigade, and the immigration service, both of which are run by his ministry.

Mondlane’s agenda also includes a meeting with members of the Moslem Community and visits to the KaMubukwane, KaTembe and KaNyaka municipal districts. .