Mozambique sets up its first maritime court

Maputo, 3 Aug (AIM) – The President of the Mozambican Supreme Court, Adelino Muchanga, inaugurated on Wednesday the country’s first maritime court in Maputo, in order to strengthen the protection of maritime resources.

According to Muchanga, the implementation of maritime courts will contribute to the affirmation of the territorial sovereignty of the Mozambican State, including the maritime region.

“Maritime courts are an instrument of capital importance for making viable the sustainable and responsible exploitation of the resources that our biodiversity makes available”, he said.

Muchanga explained that maritime courts respond to the need for protection against maritime pollution, illegal fishing, maritime trafficking of drugs and people, piracy, and other threats to security.

For the Minister of the Sea, Inland Waters and Fisheries, Lídia Cardoso, the installation of the maritime court will reinforce the capacity of the Mozambican State to defend the country’s national sovereignty.

She said that her ministry is at the forefront of training judges, prosecutors Criminal Investigation agents for the maritime courts.

For his part, the president of the Higher Court of Appeal, Manuel Bucuane, said that the installation of the maritime court marks the beginning of a new path in response to problems concerned with jurisdiction over the country’s coastal and inland waters.

He challenged the presiding judge of the new court (João Guilherme) to carry out his activities taking into account the nature of maritime crimes.

“Create, under your leadership, an environment in which everyone feels free to express themselves frankly”, he urged. “You must build bridges of dialogue, remove obstacles and allow your subordinates to do their work”
(AIM)
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