The rector of Joaquim Chissano University (UJC, formerly Instituto Superior de Relações Internacionais 'ISRI'), José Magode, is being accused of embezzling around 2.5 million meticais, allegedly to pay for the services of a lawyer.

According to the newspaper Evidências, the lawyer was at the forefront of a case that culminated in UJC being compensated 11 million meticais. The case concerns a traffic accident that occurred during the construction phase of Maputo's ring road. A truck belonging to the company building the road allegedly hit a school car. When the case was tried, the court ordered the payment of that amount. It is from this amount that the current rector of the UJC allegedly diverted 2.5 million meticais to pay the lawyer who worked in defense of the institution.

In its version of the facts, Joaquim Chissano University refuted all the accusations, justifying that José Magode does not have the autonomy to touch the institution's funds because there are people who work with the finances, the newspaper reads.

According to the source, the fee was never paid into any of the lawyer's accounts.

José Magode suspended the finance office employees and a teacher who allegedly discovered the fraud and "leaked" the information.

However, the rector is also accused of mismanaging the university, which even postponed exams last term due to non-payment of electricity bills.

In Magode's defense, the UJC says that the only time they were deprived of electricity was when a truck knocked down a power pole.

At the UJC, some agendas are shared with people who are not part of the teaching staff; the secretariat has lost and requested first-year registration receipts from third-year students.

"The institution should be more organized," said a student quoted in the newspaper.