– Family claims he received death threats for supporting Venâncio Mondlane
By Ricardo Dias
Maputo (MOZTIMES) – Arlindo Chissale, a journalist at Pinnacle News and a fervent supporter of presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, has been missing since the evening of 7 January in Cabo Delgado. It is suspected that he may have been abducted for political reasons, according to a family source.
Chissale informed his family that he planned to travel from Pemba to Nacala by road, using public transport for a journey of approximately 450 kilometres. He left home in the afternoon, at a time when there were no direct transport services from Pemba to Nacala. Hours later, he became unreachable. The last time he contacted a family member, he reported that he was at the Silva Macua junction, about 80 kilometres from Pemba.
The journalist attempted to cancel his journey twice, citing that “the situation is not good,” but on the third attempt, he proceeded with his plans. Since then, he never reached his destination, and his whereabouts remain unknown.
According to a close family member, on the morning of 7 January, Chissale packed his bags and headed to the bus station. However, he returned home at around 9 a.m., explaining that he had not travelled because “the situation is not good.” Later, he returned to the station at 12 p.m., but again came back home at 1 p.m., reiterating the same concern to his wife. Finally, at 3 p.m., he decided to board the bus. A few hours later, he informed his family that he was at the Silva Macua junction, approximately 120 kilometres from the district headquarters of Macomia.
At around 7 p.m., Chissale’s wife attempted to contact him, but although the phone rang, he did not answer. By the next day, 8 January, his phones were no longer operational.
“I believe his disappearance is politically motivated, as he was a strong supporter of Venâncio Mondlane and PODEMOS,” said a family source.
PODEMOS is the largest opposition party in parliament, emerging from the 9 October elections. Members and supporters of the party, particularly those who contested the election results, have been targeted with persecution and assassinations. To date, six victims have been reported, attacked by unidentified individuals: five were killed, and one survived. Readmore. The election results declared the victory of Frelimo, a party in power for 50 years, and its presidential candidate, Daniel Chapo.
“It has been too long since his disappearance. We are inconsolable,” said the family source, explaining that Chissale had already been preparing his family for the possibility of abduction or assassination due to the political persecution he faced.
In recent years, Chissale became prominent in politics, initially as a supporter of Renamo, where he served as the press adviser to Raúl Novinte during his tenure as mayor of Nacala. Following a split within Renamo, where some members sided with Venâncio Mondlane, Chissale emerged as a notable supporter of Mondlane and PODEMOS, which endorsed Mondlane’s presidential candidacy.
In one of his most recent appearances, Chissale recorded a video supporting the toughest phase of the demonstrations known as Ponta de Lança, which, however, never took place.
As a journalist, Chissale worked for a community radio station in Nacala, managed by the government through the Institute of Social Communication (ICS), and was currently one of the most prominent journalists at Pinnacle News, a website specialising in covering the insurgency in Cabo Delgado.
Disappearances of journalists have been reported in Cabo Delgado, allegedly involving the military. The most recent case occurred on 7 April 2020, when Ibrahimo Mbarruco, a journalist and presenter at Palma Community Radio, was abducted and has never been found. (RD)
