More on the EU ambassador’s meeting with the Attorney General – AIM

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More on the EU ambassador’s meeting with the Attorney General – AIM

7:48 CAT | 15 Jun 2016

File photo / The Attorney General's Office in Maputo

Mozambique’s Attorney-General, Beatriz Buchili, on Monday met with the ambassador of the European Union, Sven von Burgsdorff, to discuss strategies for the fight against crime and corruption.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Burgsdorff said the points discussed included the lack of money and resources for criminal investigations, and the need to ensure that the Criminal Investigation Police (PIC) is granted greater independence in its activity.

The meeting also touched on the secret debts inherited from the previous government, led by President Armando Guebuza. Buchili’s office has already announced that it is investigating the government guaranteed loans contracted by the Mozambique Tuna Company, the maritime security company Proindicus, and Mozambique Asset Management (MAM). Together these three loans amount to over two billion US dollars.

Burgsdorff said it was indispensable for the Mozambican authorities to show “the highest degree of transparency” in order to regain the trust of the public and of the international community.

The EU is one of the group of 14 donors and financing agencies (known as the Programme Aid Partners, or simply the G-14) which used to provide direct support to the Mozambican state budget. But after the scandal of the secret loans became public knowledge in April, the G-14 suspended disbursements.

Burgsdorff said the resumption of budget support will depend on the conclusions drawn by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), following a visit by an IMF technical team to Mozambique later this month.

The IMF mission will analyse Mozambique’s debt sustainability, and measures that the government can take to restore confidence.

Assistant Attorney-General Taibo Mucobora told reporters that since last week prosecutors have been questioning representatives of EMATUM, Proindicus and MAM about their loans. These investigations were still at an early stage, he said, but gave no further details.

Source: AIM