- Journalist had been missing for two weeks, suspected of being abducted
By Noémia Mendes
Maputo (MOZTIMES) – Journalist Arlindo Chissale has been killed, his brother Macário Chissale confirmed in an interview with MOZTIMES.
The family confirmed Chissale's death 15 days after his disappearance, which occurred on the night of 7 January 2025.
According to Macário, the death of the journalist, who worked for Pinnacle News and was a supporter of former presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, was confirmed on Tuesday evening. Investigations revealed that Chissale was tortured before being killed. The family claims that the assassination was carried out by individuals dressed in military uniforms, allegedly for political motives.
"Last night, we confirmed the death of our brother," said Macário Chissale. "We learned that he was tortured before being killed, and this heinous act was committed by people in military uniforms here in Cabo Delgado," he added.
Macário also explained that, following his brother's disappearance, the family filed a report on 16 January at the 2nd Police Precinct in Pemba, the Cabo Delgado provincial capital. However, to date, the police have not provided any information regarding the journalist’s disappearance.
MOZTIMES had previously reported that, before his disappearance, Chissale had informed his family that he was planning to travel from Pemba to Nacala using public transport, an approximately 450-kilometre journey. His last communication with his family was on the evening of 7 January, when he said he was at the Silva Macua junction, roughly 80 kilometres from Pemba.
Arlindo Chissale was 45 years old, married, and the father of six children, aged between 2 and 21. As a journalist, he had worked for a community radio station in Nacala, under government management through the Social Communication Institute (ICS). Until his death, he was one of the most prominent journalists at Pinnacle News, a site specialising in coverage of the insurgency in Cabo Delgado. Chissale was also a member of Renamo and, more recently, of PODEMOS, supporting the presidential candidacy of Venâncio Mondlane.
The victim’s body has not yet been found, and the police have not commented on the case. (NM)
