Sofala Province, Mozambique — The Chemba District Attorney’s Office has formally accused Agriculture Minister Roberto Albino of authorizing illegal logging activities on his private forestry concession, deepening scrutiny over his conduct in office.

According to prosecutors, Albino directed the company Ecofarm to extract 18 cubic meters of timber from 50 hectares of his 500-hectare concession—without securing the legally required logging license. The Centre for Public Integrity (CIP), a leading anti-corruption watchdog, described the agreement between Albino and Ecofarm as an environmental crime.

The National Agency for Environmental Quality Control (AQUA) has since fined Ecofarm 1.2 million meticais (approximately US$18,800). However, the company disputes the penalty, claiming the responsibility lies with Albino as the concession holder.

Both Albino and Ecofarm now face charges of illegal forest resource extraction, which carry prison sentences ranging from 12 to 16 years.

This case adds to a growing list of controversies surrounding the minister. Earlier, Mozambique’s Administrative Tribunal rejected a contract worth 130 million meticais (around US$2 million) between the Cotton and Oilseeds Institute (IAOM) and Future Technologies of Mozambique—a company reportedly linked to Albino—citing irregularities in public expenditure.

Efforts to interrogate Albino have stalled. A July 4, 2024 ruling revealed that attempts to reach him were unsuccessful, with calls answered by individuals who denied knowing him.

Tensions escalated further in July when Albino dismissed Ermelinda Maquenze, the director of Sofala Provincial Environmental Services, just days before his trial was set to begin. Maquenze had ordered the timber seizure and initiated the criminal investigation.

CIP has raised concerns over the timing of her dismissal, suggesting it may be politically motivated and could compromise the fairness of the legal proceedings.