The Center for Public Integrity (CIP) is demanding the disclosure of the names, positions and functions of those involved in acts of corruption at Mozambique Airlines (LAM).

The CIP's position comes after the President of the Republic, Daniel Chapo, denounced the existence of "foxes and corrupt people" within LAM, who have conflicts of interest and who have prevented the company from being restructured in accordance with the plan for the first 100 days of governance.

"One of the impact actions we had planned for these 100 days was the acquisition of three aircraft for LAM. In the meantime, we've discovered that some people are interested in the carrier continuing to lease planes, because that way they'll earn commissions," Chapo explained, stressing that a group of people had been sent to Europe to spend 15 days there, with the aim of inspecting new aircraft, but they returned to the country with no plausible results.

Faced with this revelation, CIP, in an analysis published a few days later and signed by investigators Baltazar Fael and Ivan Maússe, believes that the President of the Republic's speech falls short of the demands of transparency and public accountability, because "it is not enough to denounce the existence of corruption, it is necessary to name the corruptors and the corrupted". "To speak without acting is to perpetuate the scheme," warns the CIP report.

"It is essential that the President of the Republic tells the people who the players involved are, what interests they represent, what positions they hold and what actions are being taken against them," writes CIP, warning that "without this whole truth, there can be no break with the past."

For the CIP, the lack of relevance of these details raises other questions, such as whether this is a "maneuver to justify the government's failure to meet its obligations under the terms of the plan outlined for the first 100 days of government".

"In the country, promises to implement reforms to combat corruption that have subsequently turned out to be mere political speeches are not new," said the NGO, noting that in the name of transparency and communicability, principles that Chapo promised his government would be guided by, "it should reveal those involved in the company's corruption cases, the number of cases opened against them and indicate the government's plan of action in relation to LAM for the coming days, with a view to acquiring the aircraft, so that the company and its users don't continue to suffer financial and other losses."

(Photo DR)