The death of Silvi Mubiala, 33, who left her home on Tuesday to rescue her son, who was lost amid the unrest in Caop B – the Viana neighborhood on the outskirts of the capital – caused and continues to cause shock among local residents, who accuse Rapid Intervention Police (PIR) officers of being the perpetrators of the shooting.
The pain and emotion, which began with the sharing of the video on social media, showing the son sitting on the floor in tears next to his mother's body, dominates the feelings of family and neighbors, who, "indignant" by the PIR's stance, cry out for justice and protection for the six orphans.
Sitting on the sofa with his seven-month-old daughter in his arms and next to his five other children, João Panzo, a 42-year-old widower, told Lusa that, to date, he is unaware of the circumstances under which his wife was shot, as he was away from Luanda at the time.
With a broken voice, he lamented that he was one of his children who witnessed his mother's death and said that his family, living in a rented house, "is helpless," because his wife was the one who provided for the family, health, and education of their children.
Very distraught over the loss of his sister, Mubiala Vítor said that she was shot on Tuesday, the second day of the taxi drivers' strike in Luanda, marked by riots, vandalism, and looting. He alluded to the videos of his sister's death shared on social media, which further aggravated his grief.
"The children told me what happened, and then when I saw the video on social media, I couldn't. I'm very distraught over the loss of my sister," he lamented.
Silvi Mubiala was a hard-working woman who "did everything for her family," her brother recalled, criticizing the "irresponsible" behavior of the police officers who allegedly shot his sister on Rua Guarda Passagem.
At the scene, Lusa heard reports that the police fired shots at close range and fatally hit two other residents.
Catarina Francisco, a neighborhood resident, mourned the loss of her neighbor, recalling that she was shot by PIR officers.
"She was shot by the police, a PIR vehicle. When she went to look for her son, she encountered a lot of confusion, and then she started running and was shot in the head," she described, noting that the neighborhood is in shock.
Esperança Fernando Romão, who claims to have witnessed her neighbor's death while police officers tried to disperse protesters in the area, also called for justice for Silvi's death, also saying she was shot in the head.
With tears in her eyes, Esperança "demanded" justice for the death of her neighbor, whom she described as a hard-working woman who went out to look for her son, not to protest: "It's really hurting my heart, I can't take it anymore."
"We really want justice. She was a hard-working mother, she never stole from anyone (...). We want justice for this mother, we really want justice. I've never seen this in my life," he pleaded.
On Rua Guarda Passagem, where Silvi took her last breath, traces of blood are still visible, as reported by neighbors and confirmed by Lusa, with residents calling for justice and help for the grieving family.
"She wasn't a protester; in fact, she went to get her son, because we live in a war-torn climate here. The army fired several shots and hit our neighbor," said Ângelo Pemba, a resident of CAOP B, also calling for "justice."
Sympathizing with the loss of their neighbor, many gathered at Silvi's family home this Thursday to express their grief.
Residents of a precarious home with unpaid debts to their landlord, the family is asking for help from society and the authorities for the funeral and protection of the orphans.
Alegria Alberto, João Panzo's brother, reaffirmed the need for family support, noting that the widower doesn't work and survives on odd jobs and the help of his wife, a shopkeeper.
At least 22 people have died in the unrest that took place in Luanda and other provinces over the past three days of protests, following a strike called by taxi drivers, according to figures released by authorities.
