African History Series: Carlos Cardoso and Mozambique's Corrupt Elites

Carlos Cardoso was assassinated in the Mozambican capital of Maputo in late November 2000 while investigating the theft of US$14 million from the Commercial Bank of Mozambique (BCM). Born in 1951 to a family of Portuguese exiles, Carlos Cardoso supported Mozambique’s armed struggle for independence from Portugal, but as the years went by he became increasingly critical of FRELIMO government policies that mostly benefited wealthy businessmen and leading politicians. Eventually, Cardoso questioned the sudden wealth of FRELIMO government officials, charging that the size of Mozambique's legal economy (around US$4 billion at the time in a country of 19 million people) could not account for Maputo’s banking and real estate boom. His investigative reports covered money laundering, drug trafficking, and other illegal financial activities of Maputo's political and business elites. This episode looks at the life and work of Carlos Cardoso, arguably considered by many as "Africa's most creative and fearless investigative journalist." The episode is part of the Africanist Press African History Series that aims to feature voices, institutions, and individuals engaged in the story of Africa’s past and present development.