Inhambane province is facing a shortage of public prosecutors, with only four of the 14 districts having a full complement of these professionals. The districts of Vilankulo, Massinga and the cities of Inhambane and Maxixe are the only ones that currently have the necessary number of magistrates to ensure the regular functioning of the local judicial system, Radio Moçambique reported .
The information was given on Tuesday (18) by Pompílio Xavier, during a round table discussion on the role of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, its evolution and challenges, held in the city of Inhambane. The magistrate said that the remaining districts of the province needed at least one more magistrate to be able to fulfil their procedural duties satisfactorily.
According to Pompílio Xavier, the shortage of magistrates has had a negative impact on the processing of cases, failing to respond to existing needs, emphasising that this deficit is one of the main challenges faced by the Attorney General’s Office (PGR) in the province, aggravating the slowness in the administration of justice.
During the round table, held as part of the celebrations for the 35th anniversary of the institutionalisation of the PGR, other challenges facing the Public Prosecutor’s Office in the province were discussed, such as the lack of material resources, the need for ongoing training for magistrates and strengthening collaboration between the judicial authorities and local communities.
The event brought together magistrates, jurists, academics and representatives of civil society, who debated solutions for improving the effectiveness of the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Inhambane and ensuring that all districts have an adequate number of professionals for the administration of justice.
According to the participants, it is crucial that the state prioritises the allocation of more magistrates to the province, in order to ensure that all citizens have swift and fair access to justice.
The challenges reflected at this round table reinforce the need for continuous investment and a clear policy to strengthen human resources in the judicial sector, so that the Public Prosecutor’s Office can fully fulfil its constitutional mission in Inhambane province and throughout the country.
