Beira and Quelimane ports: Contracts to stand – Minister Mesquita

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Beira and Quelimane ports: Contracts to stand – Minister Mesquita

11:14 CAT | 19 Oct 2017

Beira port. Picture: Cornelder de Moçambique

The Minister of Transport and Communications, Carlos Mesquita, said yesterday that contracts he had signed with a member of his family but recently annulled by the Attorney General’s Office (PGR), would remain in force and be initialled by another government member.

“The same document with the same value, content and format will be changed only by being signed by another member of the government,” which would happen in two to three days, he said.

Mesquita was speaking on the sidelines of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Day celebrations, an event organised in coordination with the Mozambique Airlines (LAM).

At stake is the annulment of memoranda signed between the Ministry of Transport and Communications, under the tutelage of Carlos Mesquita, and the Cornelder companies, associated with his family.

The contracts signed in July last year refer to the concession of national ports to companies Cornelder Mozambique and Cornelder Quelimane and were signed by Carlos Mesquita and his late brother, Adelino Mesquita, who was an administrator of the companies.

Deciding after an inquiry requested by the Central Office of Corruption Combat (GCCC) that there was indeed a conflict of interest, the PGR decided to annul the agreements, while noting, however, that there was no room for criminal procedures since the “constituent elements of cases of corruption are not met”.

“It is a decision that has been taken and I will abide by it,” the minister said, adding that he felt he could still “hold his head high” and would continue to work as normal.

In May of this year, the non-governmental organisation Centre for Public Integrity (CIP) demanded the resignation of Minister Mesquita, claiming that his staying in office would escalate an “already proven” conflict of interest situation.

Source: Lusa