Africa-Press – Mozambique. A report that the chairperson of Mozambique’s National Elections Commission (CNE), Anglican Bishop Carlos Matsinhe, has been arrested in South Africa is completely untrue, according to the fact checking service of the Mozambican chapter of the regional press freedom body, MISA (Media Institute of Southern Africa).
A story circulating on social media, and published on a previously unknown Facebook page entitled “Newsology”, claimed that Matsinhe had been arrested at Johannesburg airport on charges of money-laundering and theft of funds intended for the Mozambican elections.
Some electronic publications claimed that Matsinhe had been found in possession of a sack of money supposedly intended for charity.
But MISA spoke with Matsinhe, and found that he is not in South Africa, or in any prison. “I am here in Maputo. I am living a nomal life, doing my work, and I have been going to the CNE every day”, he said. “This story is malicious”.
MISA found that none of the serious media, inside or outside Mozambique have reported the alleged arrest of Matsinhe. Neither the Mozambican nor the South African authorities have confirmed the supposed arrest.
Had a figure as prominent as the head of the Elections Commission really been arrested, the matter would certainly have hit the headlines.
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