2 businessmen murdered in Mozambique

Two businessmen were murdered in Mozambique on Wednesday night and the police are still searching for the suspects, local media Mozambique News Agency reported Friday.

Unknown assailants shot dead a well-known businessman, 42-year-old Mussa Patel, on Wednesday night, near his home in the central Mozambican city of Beira.

According to the report, Patel was rushed to Beira Central Hospital, but died as he was entering the hospital, and before doctors could attend to his injuries.

Eye-witnesses said Patel was murdered by two men on a motorcycle. One of them was carrying an AK-47 assault rifle, and opened fire against Patel while he was still inside his car, which was parked near his home in the neighbourhood of Ponta-Gea.

Relatives said Patel had been receiving anonymous phone calls threatening him with death.

In Maputo, a Portuguese businessman Joaquim Malaguera, owner of a company called Soundlight, was also murdered on Wednesday night.

Report said that Malaguera's body was discovered by a servant on Thursday morning. Malaguera, who lived alone, was found tied to a chair in his bathroom, and had been submerged in the bathtub.

This may have been the cause of death, since there were no gunshot wounds or other signs of injuries. The Criminal Investigation Police (PIC) visited the scene of the crime, but made no statements to the press. Endit