Mozambique health and police sectors face corruption crisis

Corruption and abuse of power are increasingly prevalent within Mozambique’s health and police sectors, according to recent reports. These institutions are facing significant challenges involving illicit charges, embezzlement, and extortion of citizens seeking basic public services.

A tragic case at the Vilankulo Rural Hospital highlighted these vulnerabilities when public servants demanded a bribe before performing an urgent surgery on a road accident victim. The resulting delay led to the patient's death. Consequently, a court sentenced two individuals to seven years in prison for passive corruption and two others to two years for involuntary manslaughter, alongside orders for their expulsion from state service.

Law enforcement agencies are also implicated in various scandals. Members of the National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC) and the Republic of Mozambique Police (PRM) have been involved in extortion attempts. In Maputo, agents were caught demanding 120,000 meticais to halt an investigation, while others were indicted for coercing a Georgian national to pay 400 euros for release. Additionally, the Central Corruption Combat Office (GCCC) recently detained investigators in Manica province for soliciting illegal payments.