Maputo, Mozambique – The Ombudsman’s Office has called on vendors at Janet Market to actively report violations of their rights by public institutions, as part of an outreach initiative aimed at strengthening citizen engagement and promoting justice in public administration.
Leading the visit, Ombudsman Laura Mutemba said the institution is committed to defending citizens’ rights, upholding legality, and improving the performance of state entities. She acknowledged the openness of the vendors and commended their willingness to share challenges they face in dealings with public institutions.
Among the issues raised were non-payment of retirement pensions through the National Institute of Social Security (INSS), excessively high water bills, and delays in the allocation of DUAT land use rights is a recurring problem affecting many citizens.
Despite this, Mutemba noted a lack of motivation among citizens to formally lodge complaints with the Prosecutor. She urged the market’s management to help raise awareness and encourage vendors to take action.
“If there is this awareness, we can even set a dedicated day to inform, listen, and receive complaints individually,” Mutemba said.
She emphasized that citizens should use public institutions to resolve their issues, even in matters outside the Ombudsman’s direct mandate, as the office can guide complainants and refer cases to the appropriate authorities. She also encouraged reporting of court cases lasting more than two years to the Prosecutor of Justice, stressing that prolonged delays should not be normalized.
Mutemba explained that complaints can be submitted in writing or orally, with trained staff available to help formalize submissions.
The outreach was supported by members of the Justice Prosecution team, including Paulo Ndjango (Chief of the Secretariat), and technicians Daniel Nhassengo and Cleonice Crisanta.
