Mozambique: Defence minister calls for drone legislation

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Mozambique: Defence minister calls for drone legislation

3:11 CAT | 06 Mar 2024

File photo: Lusa

Mozambique’s minister of defence underlined on Wednesday the need for specific legislation on the use of drones and similar devices to end “the jungle” in which these devices are operated and guarantee national security.

“We are in a wilderness, where everything that concerns us is happening without regulation,” said Cristóvão Chume, during a hearing with deputies from the Assembly of the Republic’s Defence, Security and Public Order Commission, on the proposal submitted to parliament for the Law on Aerial Surveys and Cinematography for Civilian Purposes.

Chume said that the lack of a specific regulation on the matter is allowing drones to fly uncontrolled over military operations areas, barracks, survey geological and topographical information, fauna and other types of resources.

“With this bill, we will have an opportunity to say how we want things to happen and who should do it,” he emphasised.

The minister said that the future law would respect the fundamental rights of citizens, including freedom of the press, with the exception of restrictions imposed by situations such as a state of emergency.

Cristóvão Chume said that the law will regulate the use of drones, placing limits on the use of this type of device and other aerial vehicles for capturing information.

Places such as the Defence and Security Forces, the Presidency of the Republic, the parliament, airports and public events without authorisation for overflights will be legally protected from the use of these devices, he added.

Cristóvão Chume emphasised that the future rule will allow investment so that information collected by aerial vehicles for economic purposes is processed inside the country and not outside, as is currently the case.

“There is a need for investment in national institutions so that, little by little, we can reduce the possibility of resorting to foreign companies in the area of cartography, because sometimes sensitive information that has to do with gas and oil surveys, because the information is complex, has to be taken out of the country,” emphasised Chume.

The data analysed abroad may not return to the country, he continued.

The Minister of National Defence said that the process of authorising the use of unmanned aerial vehicles should involve that department, the Police of the Republic of Mozambique and the State Intelligence and Security Service (SISE).

Source: Lusa