2 ESWATINI COPS FOUND AT MOZ CEMETERY, DETAINED

MBABANE - It was a day to forget for two local police officers who were detained in Mozambique.

The police officers were wrongfully detained in the neighbouring country while accompanying Domingo Thomo to bury three unclaimed bodies of Mozambican nationals, which were kept in a morgue at Good Shepherd Catholic Hospital in Siteki for six months. The bodies were to be buried in Namaacha in Mozambique. The local police officers were caught in the crossfire and were detained together with Thomo, who is the Spokesperson of the Association of Mozambican people in Eswatini. This publication gathered that Thomo and the police officers were detained immediately after the burial, which was conducted under the supervision of Namaacha Municipality on March 21, 2024. Namaacha is situated not too far from Lomahasha Border Gate.

Released

The officers of the law were later released while Thomo, who has since acquired Eswatini citizenship, was arrested. He was charged for allegedly endeavouring to provide a dignified funeral for the Mozambican citizens, who died in Eswatini, and facilitating their repatriation. It was gathered that after the burial, Thomo and the police officers who were accompanying him were approached by Mozambican police, who questioned them on their presence in the area. The questioning, the Times of Eswatini learnt, resulted in the detention of Thomo and the Eswatini police officers at Namaacha Police Station. However, after explaining themselves to their Mozambican counterparts, they were released while Thomo remained in the cells.
In a voice clip, Thomo confirmed his arrest on the Mozambican side of the border gate.

He stated that he went to Namaacha to bury three unclaimed bodies of Mozambican nationals, who had been languishing at Good Sheppard Catholic Hospital Mortuary. “I had been assisted by the Mozambican High Commission in Eswatini with paperwork. I do not know how the burial turned out to be a crime. The worst thing is that I seem to be frustrated for no reason. You will never find the reason behind my arrest, because I am being frustrated,” he said. He added that there was nothing new about him burying unclaimed bodies of Mozambicans in Namaacha, who died in Eswatini. Thomo said the burial was an ongoing initiative. He added that he had no access to food, clothing and visitors at the Namaacha prison.
Thomo said 200 000 Mozambican Meticais, which is equivalent to around E58 000, was required for him to gain his freedom.

He stated that his lawyers, civic society and the people of Mozambique, were trying to assist him. Thomo is known for being at the forefront in the burying of unclaimed bodies of Mozambican nationals, who died in the country. Part of his initiative includes the purchase of graves, transporting and burial of the bodies. The news of Thomo’s arrest was also reported in the Mozambican newspaper, Boletim Sobre Direitos Humanos. The newspaper reported that Thomo’s arrest was a result of an alleged procedural lapse in the repatriation of the three unclaimed bodies from Eswatini. The newspaper also reported that, observing inertia on the part of the authorities, regarding creating conditions for repatriating remains of Mozambicans in Eswatini, Thomo mobilised communities and took it upon himself to coordinate with the Mozambican High Commission in Eswatini and relevant authorities and obtained the necessary authorisation. It is said, however, that despite securing all the permission and coordinating with authorities in Eswatini and the Mozambican High Commission, Thomo was detained after overseeing the burial, which was conducted under the municipality’s supervision.

Statutes

According to the newspaper, a review of the National Institute for Mozambican Communities Abroad (INACE)  statutes indicates that processes involving multiple institutions were typically analysed and coordinated by the INACE’s technical council. “The process of repatriating bodies to Mozambique falls under the responsibility of this council, suggesting negligence on the part of the Mozambican High Commission in Eswatini. Upon Thomo’s request, the high commissioner should have delegated the burial procedures to the National Institute for Mozambican Communities Abroad (INACE). However, the high commissioner chose to request for the burial space directly from Namaacha Municipality, thus making their office accountable for subsequent events and misinforming Thomo,” reads the newspaper.

Deputy Chief Police Information and Communication Officer Nosipho Mnguni, when asked about the detention and release of the police officers, said the detention resulted from a misunderstanding between the Mozambican police and the local police. According to Mnguni, the police officers were released after producing documents to prove that they did not commit any crime on Mozambican soil.  

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