Maputo | June 11, 2026 – The Ombudsman of Mozambique, Isaque Chande, has emphasized that public transparency remains a fundamental pillar of institutional trust and democratic governance, noting that despite progress achieved in recent years, significant challenges continue to affect its effective implementation within the Public Administration.
Speaking at a panel held during the Justice Congress, under the theme “Transparency in Public Administration in Mozambique”, and framed within the broader motto “Justice as the Foundation of the Democratic State: Power, Independence and Integrity – a Structural Contribution to Inclusive National Dialogue”, the Ombudsman highlighted that opacity in administrative practices remains one of the most concerning challenges in governance.
Mr. Chande stated that Mozambique has yet to reach the desired level of an open, accessible, and fully transparent public administration, stressing the need to strengthen a culture of accountability, access to public information, and institutional responsibility.
He underlined that administrative transparency is not limited to the publication of documents or decisions, but extends to the entire functioning of the Public Administration, requiring duties of openness, justification, communication, and accountability towards citizens.
“Unfortunately, many public officials still do not fully understand transparency as a continuous legal obligation,” he noted, calling for enhanced institutional training and administrative ethics programs across the public sector.
To illustrate the importance of transparency, the Ombudsman used a metaphor comparing the Public Administration to a glass-walled kitchen, where all processes are visible, ensuring trust, accountability, and confidence among citizens. He stressed that citizens have the right to understand how public institutions operate, as these institutions exist to serve the collective interest.
Key Reform Proposals
The Ombudsman presented several recommendations aimed at strengthening transparency, including:
- Strengthening national training programs in public ethics, access to information, and administrative accountability
- Reinforcing political and institutional commitment to transparency as a governance culture
- Constitutionally enshrining the principle of transparency within Mozambique’s legal framework
- Revising Law No. 34/2014 to introduce effective sanctions for violations of access to information, unlawful refusal of disclosure, and destruction or concealment of public documents
He concluded that administrative transparency is a mechanism for social stability, institutional legitimacy, and democratic consolidation, reaffirming that:“There is no institutional trust without public transparency.”
