The Mecanismo de Apoio à Sociedade Civil (MASC) Foundation has called for reinforced anti-corruption mechanisms in Mozambique, arguing that transparency and good governance are indispensable conditions for ensuring that the exploitation of natural resources translates into concrete benefits for the population.
The position was presented by MASC Foundation executive director Maura Martins during the presentation of the Maputo Declaration, a document that marked the closing of the International Conference on Inclusive and Sustainable Development in Mozambique, held under the theme ‘From Assessment to Action — Towards Integrated National Development’.
According to Martins, the declaration recommends strengthening anti-corruption mechanisms across all sectors, calling for the adoption of coercive measures to curb the abusive use of public assets, enrichment at the expense of the population, ghost workers, and other practices that undermine the country’s development.
‘Strengthening anti-corruption mechanisms in the interest of the Mozambican people across all sectors, applying coercive measures to discourage the abusive use of public assets, enrichment at the expense of the suffering of the people, ghost workers and other ills affecting society,’ the Maputo Declaration states.
The document also advocates for the acceleration of the structural transformation of the economy, with a focus on industrialisation, the modernisation of agriculture, the development of the processing and extractive industries, logistics infrastructure, tourism, the digital economy, and services — all identified as sectors with high potential for stimulating economic activity and job creation.
The declaration further commits to strengthening the private sector, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, recognising their role in job creation, and proposes measures to facilitate access to credit for young people.
Among the defined priorities are investment in human capital development, improvements in housing, access to water, education, public security, and spatial planning, as well as the modernisation of development corridors, ports, and railways to enhance the competitiveness of the Mozambican economy.
On the governance of natural resources, the MASC Foundation argues that the extraction of natural gas, coal, heavy sands, graphite, gold, and other mineral resources must be conducted in a transparent, responsible manner, and oriented towards the benefit of present and future generations.
‘It is essential that the exploitation of these resources is reflected in the lives of Mozambican citizens, generating income, employment, economic diversification, and a reduction in poverty and social and spatial inequalities,’ Martins said.
The Maputo Declaration also identifies as priorities the strengthening of climate and environmental resilience in the face of the impacts of floods and droughts, as well as the consolidation of peace and stability in Cabo Delgado — conditions considered essential for attracting investment, restoring economic activity, and realising the vision of an inclusive, prosperous, and sustainable Mozambique by 2050.
The International Conference on Inclusive and Sustainable Development in Mozambique brought together economists, academics, public policymakers, and development partners in Maputo to debate the country’s key economic transformation challenges.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/2026/07/09/economia/financas/fundacao-masc-apela-ao-reforco-da-luta-contra-a-corrupcao-em-mocambique/
