- Joaquim Sive takes over from Bernardino Rafael, who led the Police throughout Nyusi's presidency
- The new police chief faces the challenge of tackling transnational organised crime, including kidnappings for ransom
By MOZTIMES
Maputo (MOZTIMES) –President Daniel Chapo on 23 January appointed Joaquim Sive as the new General Commander of the Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM), replacing Bernardino Rafael, who served as chief of police throughout former President Filipe Nyusi’s tenure.
Joaquim Sive brings extensive experience in the police command. He previously served as the provincial police commander in Cabo Delgado during the early years of the jihadist insurgency. He was later transferred to Nampula province, where he held the same position for several years.
During his tenure in Nampula, Sive was involved in a tragic incident in 2019 during an election campaign rally for Filipe Nyusi’s second presidential term. The event resulted in the deaths of 12 people at a local football stadium. Police had ordered the stadium gates to be closed to prevent people from leaving after Nyusi’s arrival, leading to chaos and a stampede. An inquiry was launched, and Sive was suspended, but the investigation yielded no concrete results. Sive was subsequently appointed as the provincial police commander in Sofala province.
While in Sofala, the now General Commander was involved in a conflict with then-presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, preventing him from holding a political march in the city.
Now at the helm of the PRM, Joaquim Sive faces significant challenges, including transnational organised crime such as kidnappings for ransom and drug trafficking – issues often linked to police collusion.
Another pressing challenge is addressing violence and corruption within the police force, which has severely damaged the relationship between the police and citizens. Motorists remain frequent targets of extortion by traffic police, while ordinary citizens face daily harassment and extortion from police officers, often without apparent cause. It is common for individuals without identification to be detained, forced to pay bribes for their release, or even assaulted if they cannot pay.
Sive takes command at a critical juncture, where a deep reform of the police force is required to rebuild public trust and improve security across the country. (MT)
