The Mozambican state recorded losses of approximately €43.6 million attributable to corrupt practices in the first half of 2026, a period in which the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau (GCCC) processed 1,646 cases — 137 more than in the same period of the previous year.
The figures were presented on Tuesday (18) in Maputo by GCCC spokesperson Romualdo Johnam during a press conference reviewing the bureau’s activities over the first six months of the year, according to Lusa.
“This year, up to the end of the first semester, the loss caused to the state amounted to €43.6 million and, as a result of corrupt practices within the scope of our investigations, we have so far seized €7,841,” Johnam said. Despite the substantial volume of losses identified, authorities seized only €7,841 in the course of their investigations.
According to the GCCC, 1,646 cases were processed between January and June, compared with 1,509 in the same period of 2025. Of the total, 559 cases were concluded, above the 491 recorded in the equivalent period of the prior year.
Of the concluded cases, 368 resulted in formal charges and are now proceeding through the relevant legal channels, while 191 were archived due to insufficient evidence to sustain a prosecution.
“The activity reported here is the result of the intervention of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, complaints received, and coordination with various state bodies — both public and private — with particular emphasis on coordination with the Administrative Court, the Financial Intelligence Unit, the General and Sectoral State Inspectorates, and other state bodies,” Johnam explained.
Passive corruption for unlawful acts led the categories of crimes under investigation, with 306 cases, followed by abuse of office or function with 144 cases, active corruption with 103, simulation of authority with 74, and embezzlement with 68. Money laundering was associated with seven cases.
Among the cases highlighted by authorities is a matter in the education sector in Mecubúri, Nampula province, involving 143 defendants — both public and private individuals — including 131 teachers, managers, and technicians linked to district services.
According to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the defendants are charged with embezzlement relating to the diversion of more than €24,900 earmarked for the Mecubúri District Service of Education, Youth and Technology to support 150 schools.
In the health sector, six public servants — among them three technicians from the Vilanculos Rural Hospital in Inhambane province — are accused of passive corruption for unlawful acts and involuntary manslaughter.
According to authorities, the officials allegedly made the performance of surgery on a road accident victim conditional on the payment of unspecified sums.
In April, Attorney General Américo Letela warned of the “normalisation” of corruption in the country, arguing that the phenomenon contributes to a culture of tolerance towards illegal conduct, in which criminal practices come to be regarded as legitimate means of pursuing personal interests.
In the same month, Mozambique launched the Intervention and Awareness Group (GRIS), comprising nine members, with the objective of strengthening citizen participation in the fight against corruption and promoting safe reporting mechanisms in communities, schools, and public institutions.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/2026/08/18/economia/financas/estado-perdeu-mais-de-40-me-com-corrupcao-no-1-o-semestre/
