The Government expressed, on Wednesday, 17 June, its willingness to incorporate the recommendations of the National Integrity System (NIS) Report of Mozambique, presented by the Center for Public Integrity (CIP), considering the study an important tool to strengthen transparency, good governance and the quality of public services in the country.
The statement was made by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of State Administration and Public Service, Virgulino Nhate, who argued that the document aligns with the objectives of the Public Administration Reform and Development Strategy (ERDAP 2026–2035), recently approved by the Government, which identifies administrative modernisation, transparency, integrity and efficiency in public service delivery as national priorities.
“The fight against corruption and the promotion of integrity are not merely moral or theoretical banners. They are non-negotiable pillars for promoting good governance, delivering quality public services and consolidating citizens’ trust in state institutions,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary acknowledged that the study is an important diagnostic tool for identifying weaknesses and guiding future reforms, and assured that its conclusions will be analysed in an objective and constructive manner.
“The recommendations arising from this report will constitute a valuable contribution to the improvement of our strategies and public policies, allowing us to address existing gaps and strengthen the efficiency of the state apparatus,” Nhate stated.
At the opening of the conference, CIP Executive Director Edson Cortez explained that the National Integrity System (NIS) is a methodology developed by Transparency International to assess the capacity of public institutions and key social actors to prevent and combat corruption.
According to Cortez, the assessment considers several governance pillars, including state institutions, oversight bodies, the judicial system, the media, civil society and the private sector. He noted that the sectoral studies were prepared by experts with direct knowledge of the areas analysed and underwent national and international review processes.
“The model assumes that a nation’s integrity depends on the collective functioning of several institutions. If one pillar fails, the entire anti-corruption system is weakened,” he said.
CIP intends to publish full reports on each of the assessed sectors throughout the year. The organisation hopes the findings will contribute to strengthening institutions and improving governance in the country.
Text: Germano Ndlovo
