Valentina Guebuza, the daughter of former Mozambican President Armando Guebuza, was reportedly shot dead in the Mozambican capital of Maputo. Guebuza was shot by her husband, Zófimo Muiuane, several times on Wednesday in a case of domestic violence at the couple’s home. Guebeza, 36, died of her wounds on the way to the hospital.
Muiuane and Guebeza in happier times. Photo credit: World News
With Valentina’s father being president of Mozambique from 2005 to 2015, Guebuza was one of Mozambique’s richest women with diverse business interests from telecommunications to mining.
Guebeza reportedly made most of her fortune during her father’s presidency. In 2013, she was ranked 7th on Forbes magazine’s list of the “20 Most Powerful Women in Africa.”
Guebuza’s shooting has shocked many people, since it is rare to hear of domestic violence in wealthy and politically linked families in Mozambique.
Police say Muiuane was arrested in one of Maputo’s city squares and is now in custody while investigations are ongoing.
Police spokesman Inacio Dina told reporters, “The first indications we have is that this was an authentic case of domestic violence which ended sadly in the death of the citizen Valentina Guebuza.”
Muiuane, a former employee of multinational company British American Tobacco, is currently a manager at M-Cel, one of Mozambique’s foremost telecom companies.
Muiuane and Guebuza on their wedding day. Photo credit: TVC News
Muiuane married Guebuza in 2014 at a lavish ceremony attended by more than 1,000 guests, including King Mswati III of Swaziland, South African President Jacob Zuma, and Isabel dos Santos, the daughter of Angola’s president.
Muiuane and Guebuza have one young daughter.
