VZCZCXRO9277
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHTO #0472/01 1420617
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 210617Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY MAPUTO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8900
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0162
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MAPUTO 000472 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
C O R R E C T E D  C O P Y  (FORMATING ERROR) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM MZ
SUBJECT: INCREASE IN VIGILANTE KILLINGS EXPOSES BROKEN 
JUSTICE SYSTEM 
 
 
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SUMMARY 
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¶1. (U) Mozambique has registered a significant rise in the 
number of reported vigilante killings, from 17 in 2006, to 
31 in 2007, to 30 in the first four months of 2008.  The 
increase is the result of several factors, including a rise 
in the cost of living, growing crime rate, lack of police 
presence, and a poorly functioning judicial system.  Thus 
far, the government has taken few steps to address the 
killings.  Absent a more comprehensive plan to attack the 
root of the problem, the number of vigilante killings is 
likely to continue increasing. 
 
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NUMBERS TRENDING UP 
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¶2. (SBU) According to prominent Mozambican sociologist 
Carlos Serra, the first reported vigilante killings were in 
the early 1990s, with upwards of 30 such reports per year. 
With the end of the civil war and subsequent holding of 
democratic elections, the number of vigilante killings 
began to fall Q a trend that continued until 2004 (Note: 
coincidentally, this is the year that Armando Guebuza 
became President.  End note.).  In 2006 the number stood at 
¶17.  The government was slow to respond to a major crime 
wave in Maputo and several other big cities during 2007, 
and the number of vigilante killings reached 31.  In the 
first four months of 2008, there were 30 reported cases (11 
in Chimoio, 9 in Beira, 7 in Maputo, 2 in Dondo, and 1 in 
Vanduzi). 
 
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THE ROOT OF VIGILANTE KILLINGS 
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¶3. (SBU) While media coverage tends to be minimal--usually 
a paragraph-long story relegated to newspaper back 
pages--sociologists, academics, and NGOs are working to 
expose vigilante killings as a societal sickness with 
serious implications for the judicial system.  The GRM and 
police officials acknowledge that such killings occur, but 
fail to tie them to the root causes.  According to Serra, 
the underlying themes include a weak economy, a poor 
population, and non-functioning law enforcement and 
judicial systems.  The NGO Human Rights League offers more 
specific reasons that vigilante killings occur: a rise in 
the cost of living (especially this year) coupled with a 
high unemployment rate makes citizens more reliant on 
thievery and other illegal activities; outlying suburbs 
lack electricity, creating an environment of insecurity; an 
undermanned police force is unable to provide more than a 
token presence in many parts of the country, particularly 
suburban and rural areas; citizens distrust the police and 
lack faith in a justice system that they consider corrupt 
and inefficient. 
 
¶4. (U) Indications suggest that Mozambicans have lost faith 
in the overall justice system, from the undermanned, poorly 
paid police force, to the inadequately conducted criminal 
investigations, to constant allegations of bribery that 
allows criminals to go free, to a slow and inefficient 
court system with an enormous backlog of cases, and finally 
to the poorly-run prison system.  At a recent panel 
discussion on vigilante killings organized by a Maputo 
university, one citizen stated that, "we are tired of the 
violence in our neighborhoods and have witnessed a decrease 
in crime thanks to vigilante justice."  Another noted the 
corruption in the police, "if the police catch a thief, he 
is soon released, and the problem is never solved."  In 
response to the surge in crime in 2007, the police put more 
officers on the streets and set up regular checkpoints, but 
these efforts did not reach the outlying neighborhoods, 
where most vigilante killings occur.  Similarly, there 
continues to be a severe lack of judges, the judicial 
process remains dauntingly slow, and courts have received 
few resources to clear the large backlog of cases.  As a 
result, citizens continued take matters into their own 
hands, believing they are sending a message to government 
authorities to provide a stronger police presence and to 
fix the court system. 
 
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COMMENT 
 
MAPUTO 00000472  002 OF 002 
 
 
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¶5. (SBU) It is alarming that in only the first four months 
of 2008, Mozambique has nearly surpassed the highest number 
of vigilante killings recorded in a year.  While the 
numbers correspond to a general increase in crime since 
2007, the government's response Q a stronger police 
presence within the city limits - appears more a band-aid 
than a solution.  Long term solutions, like training new 
judges and providing more resources to reduce the backlog 
of criminal cases are still in the infancy stages.  In the 
short term, the government might consider hiring more 
police officers, paying higher salaries to cut down on 
corruption, and placing officers in outlying 
neighborhoods.  Absent these efforts, it is likely that the 
number of vigilante killings will continue to increase at 
the same rapid pace as during the first four months of 
¶2008. 
 
Chapman