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Mozambique’s economic crisis is putting extra burdens on the country’s courts as banks sue their debtors and workers sacked from failing companies demand their redundancy pay.
At the opening, on Tuesday, of a session of the Judicial Council, the Deputy President of the Supreme Court, Joao Beirao, stressed the increased demand for court services thanks to the fallout from the economic crisis.
As can readily be seen from the court notices published in the press, banks are going to court to collect unpaid loans from borrowers who have defaulted.
Cited in Wednesaday’s issue of the independent daily “O Pais”, Beirao said that economic growth in recent years had led to a rapid expansion in bank credit – but now, many people who took out bank loans find they are unable to meet the repayment schedule.
“Today, because of the soaring interest rates, these bank loans have become a torment for families, leading to court actions to recover debts”, he added.
Beirao predicted that in the current climate tensions will increase between employers and workers, leading to increased layoffs, and demands for redundancy pay. Family disputes were also likely to increase, and problems with the payment of alimony.
He warned that the economic crisis could be used as an excuse for not meeting legal obligations, and for disrespecting contractual obligations between employers and their workers.
The current context, Beirao said, demanded “a redefinition of priorities and strategies”, so that the courts could reply to citizens’ concerns in good time. Furthermore, increased demand for court services should be met by increased public investment in the judicial system.
“When we speak of the economic crisis, we want to show the need to strengthen the capacity of the courts, defining this sector as a priority for public investment”, he stressed. “The increased demands on the judicial system will require a redoubled effort to guarantee the defence of citizens’ rights”.
Much of the extra pressure on the courts is felt in Maputo, because so many of the country’s commercial companies and services are concentrated in the capital. With workers who have lost their jobs running to the courts, and banks demanded payment from debtors, additional work has fallen on the shoulders of the city court and the five urban district courts, but without any additional resources.
“Nothing has changed in terms of infrastructures and staff”, said Claudina Matepua, the presiding judge of Maputo City Court. “To make matters worse, our budget is insufficient. We’re short of everything – people, money and material resources”.
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