The University of Zambezi (UniZambeze) denies the information published by the MZNewson April 4 this year, on the basis of a complaint by the Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CDD), according to which its Rector, Bettencourt Preto Sebastião Capace, had embezzled 51 million meticais intended to pay for the internship of medical students at the school.

In a letter sent to our Board of Directors, it says that this is "false information" and is also "excessively damaging to the prestige of Zambezi University and the dignity of its Rector, Prof. Dr. Bettencourt Preto Sebastião Capace".

In addition, the document clarifies that UniZambeze has not received any funds allocated by the Ministry of Health; it was allocated 51,165,354.24 meticais by the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) in November last year.

"This was a mere availability of the appropriation, and not a transfer of funds to the University's bank accounts, since the use of this amount still required the release of the financial quota by the National Treasury Directorate, i.e., appropriation," he explains.

Of the amount in question, the University revealed that 19,196,760.96 meticais had been allocated, which was immediately forwarded to the bank references of 64 students via e-SISTAFE. These are students who did their internships between January 2022 and January 25, 2023, and another 49 students who did their internships between July 2022 and August 2023.

UniZambeze also says that the remaining amount, 31,968,593.28 meticais, "has never been available to it", having been paid into the Treasury at the end of 2023 by the relevant MEF authorities.

The entity explained that the signing of integrated internship contracts for 47 students is conditional on "confirmation of budget allocation". It also clarified that of this group, 46 students began their internships in September 2023, with completion expected in 2024, with their consent and that of their guardians, "without the prior conclusion of the contracts on the assumption that they would be concluded as soon as there was confirmation of budget funding".

In its statement, the higher education establishment says that it has not coerced the students into signing the contracts, and that it is working to ensure that the budget is allocated and that contracts are signed for the students on internships and the next ones due to start this year.