Mozambique’s Governance and Anti-Corruption Efforts: A Work in Progress

While Mozambique has made significant reforms, it still faces numerous challenges in its governance and anti-corruption efforts. Despite receiving assistance from various donors, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), a central coordination mechanism is lacking, which could lead to inconsistencies and duplication.

Challenges in Governance and Anti-Corruption

The government has made some progress in addressing corruption, but more needs to be done. According to recent reports, Mozambique’s cross-country governance and corruption indicators have deteriorated over the past decade, with the country falling behind neighboring countries on several key dimensions.

• 48% of respondents believed that corruption levels had increased over the last year
• Police, taxes, and local governments were perceived as the most corrupt institutions

The Role of Domestic Stakeholders

To move forward, the domestic private sector and civil society must play a more active role in combating corruption. This includes:

• Advocating for reform
• Providing expertise
• Engaging with the government

Additionally, efforts are needed to:

• Strengthen checks and balances
• Punish those responsible for corrupt activities
• Enhance transparency and accountability

International Cooperation

The report’s authors emphasized that while donors have provided assistance, it is essential to coordinate these efforts effectively to ensure consistency and complementarity. International cooperation is crucial in addressing issues such as:

• Illicit financial flows
• Loan pushing by foreign banks

Conclusion

Mozambique still faces significant governance and anti-corruption challenges, but the government has acknowledged the need for reform and is taking steps to address these issues. Further efforts are needed from all stakeholders, including the private sector and civil society, to ensure that the country makes progress in this area.