The Center for Public Integrity (CIP) believes that the concession of the Port of Maputo to the Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC) for another 25 years from 2033 is an abnormal act and is asking the Public Prosecutor's Office to investigate the rationality of the order.

"The Public Prosecutor's Office should investigate the rationality of extending the duration of the concession, which can be considered undue and unjustified for the time it is due to come into force," reads a document released today by the CIP.

From the point of view of the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), it is relatively strange that a government, with less than a year to go until the end of its mandate, should implement such a measure. For the time being, it says that this waning mandate should be playing the role of manager, rather than burdening future governments.

"... it is essential that the Public Prosecutor's Office (MP) investigates the motives behind the extension of the concession made by the government in order to ascertain whether it was carried out transparently," it reads.

The civil society organization recognizes that there is no legislation limiting the actions of governments at the end of their term in this regard, but calls on the PM to work to determine transparency in the public interest.

"...it is essential that the Public Prosecutor's Office find out the reasons why the executive is extending a concession that will burden and oblige future governments," he said.

She predicts that the next governments, even if they find reasons, may have no alternative to terminating the concession.

"The Public Prosecutor's Office must analyze the clauses of the concession made and its grounds, in order to assess whether the public interest is safeguarded to its full extent and depth. One of the competencies of the Public Prosecutor's Office is to defend the public interest," he suggests.

For acts carried out by a government at the end of its term of office, when they raise suspicions about its integrity, the Public Prosecutor's Office should prosecute, says CIP.