The Central Office for Combating Corruption (GCCC) deplores the lack of financial and other resources that continue to limit the protection of whistleblowers in Mozambique, 12 years after the approval of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Whistleblowers and Witnesses and the creation of the Central Office for Victim Protection (GCPV).

Speaking yesterday, Thursday (11), during the Seminar for Reflection on Effective Whistleblower Protection Mechanisms, a Fundamental Tool for Fighting Corruption, the deputy director of the GCCC, Eduardo Sumana, said that this was due to the lack of financial, technical and human resources to strengthen whistleblower protection mechanisms.

"In the current context, the law has been applied by the GCPV in part by applying certain measures, such as concealing or changing the identity of a whistleblower or witness. Even so, there is a need for bolder regulations to protect whistleblowers, as well as the application of some measures in the cases carried out by the GCCV," he explained, pointing out that, "for example, the removal of a witness from one jurisdiction to another entails some financial burdens in terms of housing."

Cited by AIMEduardo Sumana also pointed to the lack of funds and human capital that could, in his view, strengthen the mechanisms for protecting whistleblowers.

"We have a shortage of financial, technical and human resources to strengthen the mechanisms for protecting whistleblowers and all those who collaborate," he stressed, reiterating that, "the motto chosen by the African Union serves as a profound reflection on the mechanisms for protecting whistleblowers as an essential tool for fighting corruption."

For her part, the representative of Spanish Cooperation and the European Union, Edurne Iñigo Regalado, said that the fight against corruption has been one of the key axes in the partnership framework signed by Mozambique and Spain. For this reason, the fight against corruption requires more effective measures to protect whistleblowers, by strengthening the capacities of the public administration and civil society.

"Whistleblowers play a very important role in this struggle, without neglecting the fact that they suffer intimidation, reprisals and persecution," concluded Edurne Iñigo Regalado.

(Photo DR)