Residents of Beira, in central Mozambique province of Sofala, have called for the protection of local cemeteries following reports of graves vandalism.
Over 50 graves in the Mangalane cemetery have been vandalized in the last month. Copper crucifixes and other metallic objects are being removed from graves by the criminals.
According to Fernando Jaime, the traditional leader in charge of the cemetery, the acts of desecration have occurred in broad daylight.
“They take crosses and other objects of dead people they find beside the grave. They put these things together and sell them for scrap,” he told local media.
Carlos Cassicussa, a resident of the Mungassa neighbourhood, said the situation was the result of a degradation of moral values.
“This behaviour is really wrong. The interior ministry should take action. They come to the cemetery even at noon,” he said.
