ANB-BIA SUPPLEMENT

Former President Samora Machel did his best to eradicate corruption from Mozambique,
but he died before he could complete this aspect of his presidency

Corruption in Mozambique and elsewhere in Africa, is not a unique phenomenon, notes British journalist Joseph Hanlon — a veteran writer on Mozambican affairs. His assertions are very much in line with what local writers bring out, as they hammer their typewriter or computer keys and elaborate on the rot in the public and private sectors.

An example is a humorous supplement in the 25 October 2002 edition of the independent weekly Savana. Written graphically with a certain sense of humour, the supplement, entitled: «Sacana» (a Portuguese term for «crooked») explains how the elite are milking the country dry. «A lot of people affirm that the economy is in danger because elephants are consuming it,» states the text. And opposite the text is a cartoon of a man holding a gun and wearing dark glasses. «Elephants»? Well, it’s clear these refer to the ruling elite. Below the text, there’s a cartoon depicting the men in power seated at a table, and declaring their interests in public companies. One says: «I will apply for over 20 privatisations of public companies». The other replies: «Be careful, the others are mine».

This is journalistic humour, but it brings out the true picture of what is taking place on Mozambique’s political front. Politicians are doing their utmost to gain control of the country’s public enterprises, or they are placing their connections in control, so they can benefit as well.

Alarming levels

Corruption has in recent years risen to such alarming levels that some public figures have dared speak out against it. Personalities have been assassinated while trying to expose the shady deals. One example is the well-known journalist, Carlos Cardoso, who was shot on the streets in November 2000; and senior banker Siba Siba Macuacua, was killed on 11 August 2001.

The two had been trying (separately) to reveal a shocking case of corruption in a major Mozambican bank fraud, where about Meticals 144 billion (i.e. then approximately US $13 million) were loaned in unclear circumstances to people connected to the ruling elite.

Later, most of those who had borrowed the money either refused to pay back the money they’d borrowed or postponed payment – leading to the collapse of the Banco Austral. It was later revealed that the political leadership was at the centre of the shady deal. Joseph Hanlon wrote in an article (published September 2001 in Metical), entitled: «Killing the Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs — Using the Accounting System to Steal»: “Someone at the highest level in the land must have known and participated. And it was clear that the perpetrators were protected, because the investigation into the affair was blocked”».

Samora Machel

At independence from Portugal in 1975, Mozambique embraced socialist policies and the leadership preached against self-enrichment. Former President Samora Machel, who died in a plane crash in 1986, was outspoken against corruption but these days there are only a few politicians who still share his opinion. The rest are out to «fill their pockets» at the public’s expense.

While it is clear that Samora Machel’s socialist experiment was a failure, his rule was characterised by a determination to weed out self-enrichment and corruption. He is famous for one of his public statements against corruption when he said; «Material, moral and ideological corruption, bribery, the search for self-comfort, preferences in job allocation, favouring family members, friends or people from one’s own place, are part of the system we want to destroy. Everyone who diverts from our political line will not be tolerated. We will be intransigent. We will not hesitate to expose them to people who have been harmed by their behaviour.»

When Machel died in 1986, this element of principled leadership disappeared. Now corruption abounds and everyone from office messenger to directors in the public sector, want to have their hands «greased» before agreeing to your request.

Corruption in the judiciary

In December 2001, the government irked by rising levels of corruption, formed a special unit composed of magistrates, to fight corruption in the judiciary. Announcing the formation of the unit, Attorney-General Joaquim Madeira said the move was necessitated by the fact that there were a lot of judges who were taking bribes and then releasing suspects. The pomp that accompanied the announcement of the unit has now faded into oblivion.

Cases of corruption abound and not much is being done to address the evil. Worst offenders are the judiciary and the police. A frustrating case among others where corruption rules the roost, is that of the 1 September 2002 escape from a maximum-security prison of Anibal Dos Santos Junior aka Anibalizinho — a prime suspect in Cardoso’s murder. Anibalizinho was being held awaiting trial and three different police units were keeping different sets of keys to his cell. Nobody can understand how all of them connived in opening the doors for him to escape. A lot of questions have been asked as to how he could have escaped from jail, but nobody’s come up with a satisfactory explanation.

People have been calling for the resignation or dismissal of Mozambique’s Interior Minister, Almerino Manhenje, who doesn’t seem concerned about the escape. In a recent address to Parliament, he said: «Prisoners escape from custody in other parts of the world, so why all the fuss?» Fingers have been pointed at individuals in high places, but where’s the proof?.

On 19 October 2002, Mozambique commemorated Samora Machel’s death, but many lamented the fact that the gallant leader did not live long enough to eradicate corruption.

• Frederico Katerere, Mozambique, January 2003 — © Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgment