The Attorney General of the Republic, Américo Letela, on Monday, July 14, advocated for the creation of a Public Prosecutor’s School to ensure the continuous training of the institution’s staff and their adaptation to ongoing social and legal transformations, according to the Mozambican News Agency.
The proposal was presented during the opening of the 18th Ordinary Session of the Coordinating Council of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, held over five days in Ponta do Ouro, Maputo Province, under the theme “For the Institutional Development of the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Favor of Justice and Human Rights.”
Américo Letela stated that “the aim is to consolidate the achievements of the Public Prosecutor’s Office over the years and to pursue the defined strategic objectives, with an emphasis on improving the quality of magistrates’ performance, which requires, among other measures, the creation of the Public Prosecutor’s School.”
During the event, the Attorney General also addressed the enactment of Law No. 5/2025 of June 13, which amends Law No. 2/2017 of January 9, concerning the National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC), which will now operate under the jurisdiction of the Attorney General’s Office.
According to Letela, this change “requires reflection” to improve SERNIC’s performance in the face of increasingly complex and transnational crime. “We must reflect on how to bring more dynamism, flexibility, and credibility to criminal investigation activities,” he emphasized.
Letela acknowledged that SERNIC’s credibility has been questioned, pointing out that some of its members act outside the law. In this regard, he called for accountability for agents involved in misconduct as a means to restore trust in the institution.
“This exercise, beyond being a legal imperative, is crucial to prevent a culture of impunity within the institution. It must be a permanent and increasingly vigorous action to ensure that organized crime does not find its way into the organization,” he stated.
The Attorney General also expressed concern over environmental crimes, which he sees as a growing challenge for the Public Prosecutor’s Office. He noted that such crimes “attract organized crime networks to the country, which exploit vulnerable communities, lure young people into violence, and foster human trafficking.”
Letela stressed that the weak performance of justice bodies contributes to the worsening of the problem and called on magistrates to become actively involved in fighting it. “Our actions are crucial for the protection of the environment, the interests of communities, and the promotion of the rule of law,” he said.
Source: DE
