SMSes may be legally valid in Mozambique – New legislation coming up

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SMSes may be legally valid in Mozambique – New legislation coming up

9:23 CAT | 16 Nov 2016

Folha de Maputo (File photo)

If the proposed Electronic Transactions Law submitted by the government to parliament is approved, electronic transactions in Mozambique, including e-mails, whatsapp messages and SMSes, may acquire legal validity.

Speaking to the press in Maputo yesterday after hearing from the Minister of Science and Technology, Higher and Technical Education Jorge Nhambiu, the chair of the Parliamentary Commission on Constitutional Affairs, Human Rights and Legality, Edson Macuácua said that electronic messages could be presented as evidence in trials.

According to Macuácua, the proposed law would mean a citizen could sign agreements and memoranda of understanding using electronic messages. A citizen who is in one district or province could validly sign a contract recognised by the state with another entity or person a long way away by electronic means.

Macuácua added that the new law would render it unnecessary for signatories and user to be in the same place to verify the authenticity of their signatures.

Minister Nhambiu explained that the government intended to establish a cyber information regime which would both protect the consumer and increase citizens’ trust in electronic transactions.

Source: Folha de Maputo