ruption have not been effective, despite the existence of many legal instruments (domestic, regional and international) adopted for that purpose. II. Findings of the CRM 394. The CRM confirms that corruption is of major concern in Mozambique. It is endemic throughout the economic and political spheres. Worse still, there is a sense of resignation and tolerance in society generally, because several high-profile cases of corruption that were reported have not yet been resolved satisfactorily. Participants in the validation workshops reported that, in the political sphere, corruption occurs in the awarding of large government contracts; among vendors who supply goods and services to the government; among public servants who collect bribes as a means of coping with the high cost of living due to low public sector wages; and in the delivery of most public services, especially education and healthcare. Corruption is also said to be rife in the execution of public works, due to the absence of sufficient legal frameworks for checking abuses by private sector operators. 395. Traffic police are notorious for requesting for “soft drinks” at checkpoints and the rest of the police force is accused of extorting accused persons, irrespective of the merits of their cases. Participants complained that police corruption weakens the administration of justice, as well as the fight against corruption, as very often accused persons are not properly investigated and prosecuted. After a short time in police detention, some of the accused reach a settlement with the police and are released to go back to terrorise their accusers. 396. Corruption affects the public sector’s capacity, as most recruitment is based on political party affiliation or nepotism. Recruitment into all public institutions is carefully regulated to ensure that FRELIMO members have an advantage and they also enjoy preferential treatment when it comes to promotions. In a time of mass unemployment, choice job vacancies in the public sector are the exclusive preserve of those sponsored by powerful people. The conflation of state, government and party means that the children, relations and friends of high-ranking government and party officials receive preferential access to public sector jobs, contracts and consultancy. 397. The CRM was informed that corruption thrives through the interpenetration of government, business and politics. High-ranking government officials are allegedly heavily involved in businesses, some of which they are officially required to regulate or which obtains contracts from the government. Businesspeople see partnership with government officials as an advantage, because it opens doors that would otherwise be shut, confers competitive advantage and safeguards against the prying eyes of government regulators and tax authorities. Members of the Chamber of Commerce were appreciative of the economic liberalisation policy that has opened up the economic space for them, 140 A P R M COU N T RY R EV IEW R EP ORT NO. 11