By Sheila Nhancale
Maputo (MOZTIMES) – The Mozambican Tax Authority (AT) has confirmed that it invested more than 70 million meticais (equivalent to about a million US dollars) on acquiring and installing a Fiscal Machine Management Computer System (SGMF), which so far is still not working, according to an official note from the AT dated 3 January 2025, but only received by MOZTIMES on 24 January.
In the document, signed by the head of the AT President’s office, Verónica Maúte, the AT explains that the system was acquired, installed and tested, but it is not operational due to a series of technical problems.
“Through contracts nos. 34/AT/2016 and 98/AT/2018, the AT acquired and installed the SGMF, and undertook some tests on it; however, due to problems of electrical overload, the AT Data Centre suffered a serious breakdown which greatly affected the SGMF”, says the note.
The AT further explained that, after a diagnosis undertaken jointly with the Financial Systems Information Development Centre (CEDSIF, IP), it was decided to abandon the SGMF in favour of implementing a system of electronic invoicing. The replacement was justified by Article 27, paragraph 10, of Law no. 13/2016, which envisages the electronic submission of data on invoices to the Tax Administration, using e-invoicing or fiscal machines. According to the document, the AT “is in the process of designing the e-invoicing model which presupposes adoption of the SAF-T (MOZ) model and the e-invoice”.
Controversial decision
The AT’s decision to replace the SGMF by e-invoicing arose after a joint diagnosis with the Financial Systems Information Development Centre (CEDSIF, IP), which concluded that the new approach would be more viable and efficient.
However, the change in system has not dispelled doubts about management of the project. The consortium hired to develop the SGMF, consisting of Lis Sistemas Integrados, Lda., and the Chinese company INSPUR, has been accused of corruption and mismanagement.
Among the accusations is the allegation that, under implementation of the project, senior AT staff members have received bribes. It is alleged that Bruno Rodolfo, manager of the project at the time, illicitly received 5,920,000 meticais. Rodolfo, who is currently responsible for the integrated system for collecting State revenue (e-taxation), denies the accusation and has begun criminal proceedings against Alberto Nhamposse, the partner of Lis Sistemas Integrados, who made the denunciations.
Change of strategy or attempt to cover up failings?
Although the AT argues that the change to e-invoicing is the best option, the lack of explanation about the additional costs of implementing the new system and about responsibility for the millions already spent on the SGMF continue to raise questions.
The institution states that the money was used in line with the implementation plan, but does not explain whether anyone is being held responsible for the losses caused by the failing of the SGMF or whether the contracts signed with the companies involved will be audited.
“The resources were disbursed as the system evolved, according to the terms of the contracts nos. 34/AT/2016 and 98/AT/2018, which were installed in the AT Data Centre. When this phase of the project was concluded, the financial resources were fully executed”, said the AT. (SN)
