Transparency International strongly condemns shooting of Professor Jose Macuane; demands action
Anti-corruption group and its Mozambique chapter demand government investigation into attack
Transparency International and its chapter in Mozambique, Centro de Integridade Pública, strongly condemn the abduction and shooting of Professor José Jaime Macuane earlier this week in Maputo and demands the government of Mozambique make every effort to investigate the tragic event and take urgent steps to protect civil society.
Macuane, who has been hospitalized in serious condition, is one of several prominent activists who have taken a strong stand against corruption within the current and former Mozambique governments. His abduction and shooting in the legs on Monday is seen as a warning message to all who openly question and seek investigation of the latest government corruption scandal.
“Corruption fighters speak for the people, they hold governments to account and they must have the freedom to speak openly about government problems and how to fix them. José Jaime Macuane is a hero and he and people who have the courage to speak truth to power must be protected in Mozambique, and everywhere,” said Elena Panfilova, Vice Chair of Transparency International.
Transparency International sends its deepest sympathies to the family of Macuane and wishes him a speedy recovery.
Civil society organisations in Mozambique have asked for a forensic audit of government accounts on as much as $2 billion of government debt amid allegations of corruption and kickbacks that ultimately lined the pockets of government officials while leaving the people of Mozambique to pay the bill.
As a signatory of the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption, Mozambique has an obligation to protect members of civil society and “create an enabling environment that will enable civil society and the media to hold governments to the highest levels of transparency and accountability in the management of public affairs.”
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