MOZAMBIQUE PRISON SEX-SELLING SYNDICATE EXPOSED

By: Ollus Ndomu

A sex-selling ratchet at Mozambique’s largest women’s prison in the capital Maputo has been unearthed. The development follows a probe into an alleged forced prostitution at Maputo Special Penitentiary for Women otherwise known as Ndlavela Women’s Prison.

Justice Minister Helena Kida announced Wednesday, June 16, 2021 that government had set up a commission of inquiry to investigate the Centre for Public Integrity (CIP) reported prison sex-work which benefited wardens. After separate interactions with inmates and prison guards, Kida told the press that government would probe all allegations independently:

“It is quite premature to give any prospective explanation”, she said. “That is the reason why we have set up the commission which will first unveil what has happened and secondly give solutions to the matter”.

Earlier, CIP, an anti-corruption NGO publicized its evidence-backed findings about the sex exploitation. The evidence included videos, interviews with several inmate victims, and mobile phone messages between wardens and supposed clients.

The government-appointed commission of inquiry comprised of the National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC), the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Legal and Judicial Training Centre, the Legal Aid Institute (IPAJ), the National Human Rights Commission, the Association of Women Jurists, the Mozambique Bar Association (OAM) and psychologists has reported similar findings with CIP and the Justice Minister has since suspended the entire Women’s Prison management.

The syndicate has continued to attracted internal condemnation from rights groups including the country’s oldest military and political grouping, Renamo.