Maputo — Mozambique’s Ministry of the Public Service and the Attorney-General’s Office are undertaking a national campaign to raise awareness of the Law on Public Probity, which takes effect as from 15 November.

A press statement from the Ministry of the Public Service says that the two institutions are holding meetings and lectures throughout the country to explain the new law, which was passed by the country’s parliament, the Assembly of the Republic, in May.

“The importance of the Law on Public Probity is that it enshrines the duties, responsibilities and obligations of public servants and the holders of public office”, declared the statement.

The article in the law that has aroused most interest bars all holders of public office from receiving wages or fees from more than one public institution or company. This was seen as targeting those parliamentarians from the ruling Frelimo Party who also sit on the boards of publicly-owned companies.

The officials covered range from the President of the Republic down to village headmen. They include all ministers, deputy ministers, provincial governors, district administrators, mayors and municipal councillors, as well as parliamentary deputies.

As from 15 November, none of these officials will be entitled to draw remuneration from other public bodies (except for teaching duties, intellectual property rights or pensions from jobs held in the past). In the case of deputies, they must either resign their parliamentary seats, or give up their other paid positions.