Mozambique loses US$500 million annually to corruption, says CIP

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Mozambique loses US$500 million annually to corruption, says CIP

8:28 CAT | 02 Jun 2016

A culture of impunity perpetuates corruption in Mozambique, researchers at Mozambique’s Centre for Public Integrity believe, and cost the Mozambican economy US$500 million every year between the years of 2002 and 2014.

The study, “The cost of corruption to the Mozambican economy”, analyzes malpractices in areas such as public finance, customs, police, health, education, building, fisheries, telecommunications, environment and natural resources.

The study agrees with other analyses which suggest that corruption in Mozambique is the result of the weakness of state institutions.

CIP researcher Baltazar Fael told VOA that the country does not have a clear strategy to curb corruption, which results in the perpetuation of poverty and the poor quality of public services.

“The existing (strategy) has no goals or objectives,” Fael said, and the government is not taking the fight seriously, contrary to the promises that President Nyusi made when he took office.

“It’s a real disappointment,” says Fael. The entrenched culture of impunity is one of the factors that perpetuates corruption, and even causes “people to boast about assets obtained corruptly”.

He criticized institutions such as the Anti-Corruption Office for concentrating on “small-scale [corruption] involving low and middle management staff.” “Top officials or political appointees are never brought to court in this country,” he says.

Among other measures, the CIP study proposes the strengthening of the institutions of justice and the restructuring of the sector responsible for state purchases, with the focus on the areas most prone to corruption.

Source: VOA Portugues