Human rights situation in Mozambique: Statement to the Subcommittee on Human Rights of the European ...
Mozambique: Attorney-General Letela defends the role of youth in the fight against corruption
12:58 CAT | 13 Dec 2024
Photo: Procuradoria Geral da República Moçambique/Facebook
The newly sworn-in Attorney General of Mozambique, Américo Letela, on Thursday encouraged youth to contribute to the fight against corruption and the creation of more transparent leadership, reaffirming the commitment to intensify actions to combat crime through education.
“Corruption, as we know, is a plague that corrodes the foundations of any State (…), today’s youth, more connected and informed than ever, have the obligation to contribute to the creation of more transparent and responsible leadership,” said Letela, adding that corruption compromises the future of future generations.
The Attorney General of the Republic was addressing a seminar celebrating to the International Anti-Corruption Day, which was marked on Monday, under the motto “Uniting with Youth Against Corruption: Shaping Tomorrow’s Integrity”.
“We must therefore strengthen the culture of integrity among young people, forming citizens who are committed not only to their own well-being but also to the collective well-being of the country,” he said.
For the official, the fight against corruption is an “ethical and social mission.”
“Likewise, this fight is not just for judicial institutions or government agencies; it is a responsibility shared by the entire society, and young people in particular have a powerful role,” he explained.
Letela also reaffirmed the commitment to intensify actions against corruption, through memoranda with the Ministry of Education and other educational institutions.
“We have promoted the creation of anti-corruption centres in schools and the implementation of educational programs. At the same time, we are strengthening cooperation with schools, universities and other educational institutions, developing initiatives focused on education in citizenship and ethics,” he said.
Letela also points to international partnerships and the strengthening of reporting and protection mechanisms for whistle-blowers as a means of combating corruption.
“We are strengthening international partnerships by implementing good practices and effective strategies to combat corruption. The exchange of knowledge and global cooperation are essential because corruption does not respect borders, its impacts transcend national boundaries,” he stated.
Regarding the strengthening of reporting mechanisms, Letela argued that “those who have the courage to report deserve security and support”.
“We are determined to implement measures that encourage and protect these citizens, through the regulation of the law on the protection of witnesses, whistle-blowers, victims and experts in criminal proceedings, because only in this way can we promote a culture where truth and transparency are valued,” the Attorney General of the Republic of Mozambique concluded.
The Central Office for Combating Corruption (GCCC) announced in August that it had recovered assets valued at around 128 million meticais (almost €2 million) in corruption cases in Mozambique in the last six months.
In total, the Public Prosecutor’s Office recovered, in the first half of this year, six properties, valued at just over 126 million meticais (€1.8 million), and one vehicle, valued at 1.3 million meticais (€18,000), in a period in which it processed 1,328 cases.
Source: Lusa
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