“The rigged tenders to benefit friends, the cartels that grow rich at the expense of the people’s suffering – this has to end.” – President Daniel Chapo
By MOZTIMES
Maputo (MOZTIMES) - Daniel Chapo delivered a fine speech at his inauguration. It doesn’t matter who wrote it. “Good ideas have no political colour,” said Filipe Nyusi at his own inauguration in 2015, although the practice over the following ten years showed otherwise.
Upon taking office as Mozambique’s 5th President, Daniel Chapo hit the nail on the head by identifying the main problems that have made life so difficult for the Mozambican public. One of those problems is corruption, accompanied by endemic impunity.
The President categorically stated: “Let me make it clear: anyone who demands commissions to do their job is stealing from the people.” He further emphasised that “corruption has eroded the fabric of our state and our people” and that “rigged tenders, to benefit friends, must end.”
Problem well identified, Mr President. Now let’s get to work.
The President has promised to tackle corruption and put an end to rigged public tenders that favour friends. On our end, we are committed to contributing by exposing cases of corruption and other wrongdoing through investigative journalism. Now, it is up to the President to turn words into action.
There is no time to waste. It is puzzling that, nearly two weeks after his inauguration, the President has yet to form his government. For a country that finds itself in a deep hole, it is urgent to begin the work required to climb out of this situation.
However, we would like to focus here on corruption in rigged public tenders designed to benefit friends.
In 2016, the Revenue Authority launched a public tender to procure an IT system for managing fiscal machines (SGMF). The hired company received a contract worth more than a million USD, yet the project remains non-operational to this day.
Nearly ten years later, we investigated and exposed this scandal, which bears a striking resemblance to what the President referred to as “rigged tenders to benefit friends.” All the details of this case were published in an investigative article last Thursday.
The Revenue Authority confirmed in an official letter that the project never worked despite the full payment having been made.
The case was reported to the Public Prosecutor’s Office in 2019, with allegations of corruption, yet no one has been held accountable. Corruption thrives because it is accompanied by impunity.
In this regard, our role as the press is to investigate and expose cases of corruption and other irregularities. Criminal investigations, however, are the responsibility of the state authorities, under the ultimate leadership of President Chapo.
A few weeks ago, we published an article stating that “Chapo is aware of his lack of legitimacy and is therefore investing in marketing to build the image of an honest and tolerant politician, different from his predecessor, Filipe Nyusi.”
His advisers were not pleased with the piece and approached us, albeit informally. We made it clear that we would continue to do our work and hold the President to account, as this is the role of the press in a free country. Although Mozambique is not entirely free, it is this ideal of freedom that we pursue.
The best way to gain legitimacy, Mr President, is through hard work. If you lack the legitimacy of the title due to the manner in which you ascended to the presidency, you can earn the legitimacy of performance through your actions.
As a lawyer, Mr President, you know that corruption crimes do not have a statute of limitations. It would set a powerful example to start tackling the “rigged tenders to benefit friends” by addressing this case we have brought to light. Clear orders must be given to the Public Prosecutor’s Office to investigate and resolve this matter. This is how you can begin to build the legitimacy you so urgently need.
In the coming days, we will bring more cases to the public's attention. We expect concrete actions from your government to combat corruption. From our side, you can count on investigative reporting and the fearless exposure of corruption with boldness and integrity.
We attach a section of the President’s speech in which he promises to tackle corruption, particularly in public procurement, to serve as a constant reminder of his words, which we wholeheartedly support and demand to see expressed in actions. (MT)
