The Carlos Cardoso Case Study

Introduction

On 22 November 2000, Carlos Cardoso was murdered.

Cardoso was an outspoken journalist and Mozambican patriot who made it his life’s work to expose corruption in Mozambique. Cardoso’s investigative work earned him an international reputation, and his assassination has been seen as a blow for press freedom in Mozambique and the region. However, successful attempts to prosecute those responsible for his death – though allegedly not fulfilled – are indicative of the attempt by the Mozambique state to challenge corruption and enforce the rule of law.

This documentation address Cardoso’s assassination within the context of growing systemic corruption in Mozambique since the early 1990s. The IMF-imposed fiscal restructuring and privatisation of the previously state-controlled economy was characterised by corruption and the misappropriation of funds.

The privatisation of Banco Comercial (BCM) bank was wracked by huge fraud during which an alleged $15 million was siphoned off. These funds were later replaced from the State Treasury on order to secure a privatisation deal with Absa of South Africa.

Through his daily faxed newspaper, Metical, Cardoso and his colleagues criticized the lack of action by the Government in investigating the theft.  Cardoso had also made enemies in high places through his relentless criticism of the Government’s deregulation of the cashew industry, and handling of the death of 83 Renamo supporters in a police cell.

The so called Cardoso Murder Trials have openend a can of worms of underground dealing between high-ranking officials and unscrupulous, well-connected businessmen who are able to act outside the law.

During the trials, four men were convicted of Cardoso’s murder. In addition, brothers Momade Assife Abul Satar, Ayob Abul Satar and Vincente Ramaya were accused of making payments to the hit-men and found guilty of ordering the assassination.

However, throughout the trial, many witnesses connected Nympine Chissano to the murder.  Nympine is the son of President Jaoquim Chissano, former chairperson of the African Union. The Abul Satars have accussed Nympine of ordering the assassination and instructing them to make the payments to the hit-men. There exists a number of uncashed cheques from Nympine to the Abul Satars.

The Abul Satars claim that Cardoso’s whistle-blowing threatened to expose Nympine and other senior official’s involvement in the BCM theft. Despite a international outcry, Nympine has not yet been brought to court and there are claims that high-placed officials are deliberately dragging their feet in this regard.

The case has also been linked to two further murders. In August 2001, Anton io Siba-Siba, Interim Chairman of the collapsed Austral Bank was murdered while attempting to recover bad debts from, among others, senior people in Government and the ruling party, Frelimo. In 1997, banking administrator, Jose Lima Felix was murdered.

Setting a precedent, the trial pf Cardoso's murderers was televised live to the nation and conducted in an open court in full view of hundreds of witnesses.  This has gone some way towards introducing transparency to a sensitive, high-profile case by involving the Mozambican public, and thereby suppressing speculation of heavy-handedness on the part of senior officials.

This Carlos Cardoso case study includes articles from a broad range of sources. The documentation discusses corruption in Mozambique and especially in the privatisation of the banking sector. Further articles highlight the life and work, the details of his assassination and follow the so-called  Cardoso Murder Trials through the Mozambique News Agency.

(Photo: Joao Silva/PictureNET Africa: A banner displaying the word 'justice' and posters with the face of slain journalist Carlos Cardoso, reading 'We inisist on justice' and 'we want to live with-out fear' can be seen at a shrine in Maputo where the journalist was killed.)

Corruption In Mozambique

• Gastrow, P and Mosse M; Mozambique: Threats posed by the penetration of criminal networks; ISS Regional Seminar; 18 April 2002 ( PDF 110kb)
• Hanlon, J; Are donors to Mozambique supporting Democracy; Conference Towards a New Political Economy of Development; Sheffield, 4 July 2003 (PDF 152kb)
• Hanlon, J; Mozambique's Banking Crises; Metical, 17 September, 2001 (PDF 128kb)
• Tembe, J; Chissano tackles corruption; BBC.com, 21 December 2001 (PDF 58kb)

BCM Bank Corruption Scandal & Investigation

• AIM, BCM Fraud: Verdict And Sentence, Agencia de Informacao de Mocambique (Maputo) 15 June 2004 (PDF 40kb)
• Paul Fauvet, BCM Fraud: What Are the Next Steps? Agencia de Informacao de Mocambique (Maputo), 17 June 2004 (PDF 40kb)
• SAPA-AP, Lawyer held over epic bank scam, 10 July 2005 (PDF 24kb)
• Mozambique News Agency; Siba-Siba murdered; suspect arrested, 24 April 2003 (PDF 53kb)
• Mozambique News Agency; BCM fraud trial begins at top security jail, 4 January 2004 (PDF 72kb)
• Mail & Guardian; Mozambique's $14-million banking scam in court, 24 May 2002 (PDF 31kb)
• Hanlon, J; Murdered Mozambican Economist Nominated for Transparency International, Award; Africa Policy E-Journal, 4 March 2003 (PDF 33kb)
• Hanon, J; Bank corruption becomes sight of struggle in Mozambique; Review of African Political Economy No.91; ROAPE Publications Ltd. 2002 (PDF 184kb)

The Assassination of Carlos Cardoso

• Fauvet, P; Carlos Cardoso: Obituary; Mozambique News Agency, 23 November 2000 (PDF 96kb)
• Sorokobi, Y; The Murder of Carlos Cardoso; The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), 2001(PDF 80kb)
• Barron, C; Anti-corruption crusader was no armchair critic; Sunday Times, 3 December 2000 (PDF 64kb)
• Reporters Sans Frontiers; Light must be shed on the murder of Carlos Cardos, 15 Dec 2000 (PDF 44kb)
• Reporters Sans Frontiers; Confusing elements in the investigation into the murder of Carlos Cardos, 9 March 2001 (PDF 44kb)
• Carte Blanche; Carlos Cardoso, Fight for Justice, 2 February 2003 (PDF 60kb)
• Mail & Guardian; Cardoso's last, greatest report, 5 February 2003 (PDF 40kb)
• Barker, J; Assassination of a Journalist - Mozambique loses a truth-teller; Telepolis, 13 December 2000 (PDF 76kb)
• Clemens, D; Mozambican Journalist Carlos Cardoso’s Suspected Killers on Trial; World Press Review, 16 December 2002 (PDF 100kb)

The Trials

• Elias Maluleke, Anibal: Chissano's son hired me, News 24,1 February 23 (PDF 28kb)
• SAPA, Man wanted for Cardoso murder nabbed in Pretoria, 31 January 2003 (PDF 24kb)
• Mail and Guardian, Cardoso haunts Mozambican poll Justin Pearce, 26 November 2004 (PDF 32kb)
• News24, Cardoso hit squad up for fraud, 18 September 2003 (PDF 28kb)
• News24, Cardoso suspect escapes, 3 September 2002 (PDF 24kb)
• News24, Cops charged for freeing killer, 12 August 2003 (PDF 24kb)
• News24, 'Cops let killer go again', 20 May 2004 (PDF 24kb)
• SAPA-AP, Cardoso: Cops not guilty, 29 September 2003 (PDF 24kb)
• Panafrican News Agency (PANA) Daily Newswire, Deported Mozambican Assassin Back in Maputo from Canada, 22 January 2005 (PDF 32kb)
• All Africa, Former President Chissano's Son Faces Charges from Prosecutor in Cardoso Murder, 14 April 2005, Agencia de Informacao de Mocambique (PDF 40kb)
• All Africa, Cardoso's Killer Returned to Mozambique, 27 January 2005 (PDF 36kb) International Freedom of Expression Exchange Clearing House.
• All Africa, Killer seeks asylum in Canada, 26 May 2004 (PDF 20kb)
• AIM, Two Steel Doors, Six Padlocks, 27 Men to Guard Assassin, Agencia de Informacao de Mocambique, 24 January 2005 (PDF 36kb)
• Duncan Campbell, Mozambique's credibility tested by reporter's death, Manchester Guardian Weekly, 18 February 2005 - 24 February 2005 (PDF 36kb)
• Guardian Unlimited, Mozambique tries again to tell story of reporter's killing, 9 February 2005 (PDF 32kb)
• AIM, Prosecutor To Release Charge Sheet Against Former President Chissano's Son in Cardoso Murder, 14 April 2005, Agencia de Informacao de Mocambique (PDF 40kb)
• Rachel L. Swarns, 'Trial of the Century' Enthralls Mozambique, New York Times, 8 January 2003 (PDF 40kb)
• Reporters Sans Frontiers; Mozambique - 2003 Annual Report, 2003 (PDF 64kb)
• Mozambique News Agency (AIM); Long sentences for murderers of Carlos Cardoso, 3 Febuary 2003 (PDF 40kb)
• Cooper, A; Letter to Chissano; President of the Republic of Mozambique; Mail & Guardian, 11 January 2002 (PDF 52kb)
• Judicial Court of The City of Maputo; Judgement of Six Accused in Cardoso Trial; Section 10 (PDF 2.9MB)
• Hanlon J; Carlos Cardoso Murder Trial Verdict Detail; Mozambique News Agency, 14 January 2003 (PDF 36kb)
• Africa Policy E-Journal; Cardoso Murder, Long Prison Sentences Imposed, 4 March 2003 (PDF 40kb)
• AIM News; Cardoso Murder; six accused to stand trial, 11 September 2001 (PDF 48kb)
• Afrol News; Cardoso murder case becomes more ticklish, 8 October 2003 (PDF 84kb)
• Mail & Guardian; Web tightens around Chissano's Son,, 29 November 2002 (PDF 48kb)
• BBC News online; Mozambique escapes a 'national disgrace', 3 September 2003 (PDF 40kb)
• Reporters Sans Frontiers; RSF wonders if the Mozambican government wants to shed light on the murder of Carlos Cardoso; International Freedom of Exchange (IFEX), 20 December 2000 (PDF 56kb)
• Afrol News; Mozambican President's son "innocent" in Cardoso murder, 6 February 2003 (PDF 56kb)

AIM News Coverage of the Trials

• AIM News, Carlos Cardoso murder trial update; 1 September 2003 (PDF 56kb)
• AIM News, Carlos Cardoso murder trial update; 31 January 2003 (PDF 64kb)
• AIM News, Carlos Cardoso murder trial update; 15 January 2003 (PDF 84kb)
• AIM News, Carlos Cardoso murder trial update - summing up by prosecution and defence; 14 January 2003 (PDF 120kb)
• AIM News, Carlos Cardoso murder trial update; 10 January 2003 (PDF 76kb)
• AIM News, Carlos Cardoso murder trial update; 9 January 2003 (PDF 64kb)
• AIM News, Carlos Cardoso murder trial update; 8 January 2003 (PDF 56kb)
• AIM News, Carlos Cardoso murder trial update; 7 January 2003 (PDF 44kb)
• AIM News, Carlos Cardoso murder trial update; 6 January 2003 (PDF 108kb)
• AIM News, Carlos Cardoso murder trial update; 19 December 2002 (PDF 68kb)
• AIM News, Carlos Cardoso murder trial update; 18 December 2002 (PDF 64kb)
• AIM News, Carlos Cardoso murder trial update; 17 December 2002 (PDF 60kb)
• AIM News, Carlos Cardoso murder trial update; 16 December 2002 (PDF 68kb)
• AIM News, Carlos Cardoso murder trial update; 12 December 2002 (PDF 60kb)
• AIM News, Carlos Cardoso murder trial update; 11 December 2002 (PDF 68kb)
• AIM News, Carlos Cardoso murder trial update; 10 December 2002 (PDF 60kb)
• AIM News, Carlos Cardoso murder trial update; 9 December 2002 (PDF 68kb)
• AIM News, Carlos Cardoso murder trial update; 6 December 2002 (PDF 76kb)
• AIM News, No. 244; Cardoso Murder trial-accusations fly; 2 December 2002 (PDF 96kb)
• AIM News, Carlos Cardoso murder trial update; 2 December 2002 (PDF 64kb)
• AIM News, Carlos Cardoso murder trial update; 29 November 2002 (PDF 96kb)
• AIM News, Carlos Cardoso murder trial update; 28 November 2002 (PDF 64kb)
• AIM News, Special Issue- Carlos cardoso murder trial; 26 November 2002 (PDF 140kb)
• AIM News, Carlos cardoso murder trial update; 26 November 2002 (PDF 68kb)