2026-07-16

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Law No. 15/2026 Approving the Law on the National Payments System

The Assembly of the Republic enacted Law No. 15/2026 to establish the legal regime governing the organization, functioning, inspection, and supervision of Mozambique's National Payments System. The legislation designates the Bank of Mozambique as the primary authority, granting it powers to license system operators, regulate all system components, and manage specific payment infrastructure. This law applies to all participants and non-participants conducting operations within the National Payments System.

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Thursday, 2 July 2026 | 1st Series — Number 124

BOLETIM DA REPÚBLICA

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF MOZAMBIQUE

NATIONAL PRESS OF MOZAMBIQUE, E.P.


NOTICE

The material to be published in the "Boletim da República" must be submitted in a duly authenticated copy, one for each subject, which must include, in addition to the necessary indications for this purpose, the following endorsement, signed and authenticated: For publication in the "Boletim da República".


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Assembly of the Republic: Law No. 15/2026: Approves the Law on the National Payments System. Law No. 16/2026: Approves the Law revising the Statute of the Order of Accountants and Auditors of Mozambique and repeals Law No. 8/2012, of 8 February. Law No. 18/2026: Approves the Legislative Authorization Law regarding the Legal Regime for the Exercise of Commercial Activity.


ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC

Law No. 15/2026

of 2 July

Given the need to adjust the legal framework relating to the National Payments System, in order to accommodate the transformations that have occurred and establish mechanisms to reinforce the security and transparency of its organization, functioning, inspection, and supervision, in harmony with international best practices, under the provisions of paragraph 1 of Article 178 of the Constitution of the Republic, the Assembly of the Republic determines:

CHAPTER I

General Provisions

ARTICLE 1

(Object)

This Law establishes the legal regime of the National Payments System, namely the fundamental principles and the rules governing its organization, functioning, inspection, and supervision.

ARTICLE 2

(Scope of Application)

This Law applies to all participants in the National Payments System and to those who, although not participants, carry out some operation within the context of payment systems.

ARTICLE 3

(Definitions)

The terms used in this Law are contained in the Glossary, attached hereto, which forms an integral part of it.

CHAPTER II

Objectives and Competences

ARTICLE 4

(Objectives of the National Payments System)

  1. The National Payments System aims to promote the security, efficiency, transparency, integrity, and reliability of all its components, in order to contribute to financial stability.

  2. Complementary objectives to those referred to in paragraph 1 of this article include contributing to financial inclusion, consumer protection, and fair, open, and equitable access to the National Payments System.

ARTICLE 5

(Authority of the National Payments System)

  1. The Bank of Mozambique is the authority of the National Payments System.

  2. Without prejudice to the provisions of paragraph 1 of this article, the other regulatory and supervisory authorities involved in the National Payments System have their own competences to achieve the objectives defined in Article 4 of this Law.

ARTICLE 6

(Competences of the Bank of Mozambique)

  1. For the purposes of this Law, it is the responsibility of the Bank of Mozambique to: a) license system operators; b) regulate, inspect, and supervise all components of the National Payments System.

  2. It is specifically the responsibility of the Bank of Mozambique to: a) establish, operate, and manage the components of the National Payments System; b) provide payment services or issue payment instruments within the scope of its duties as the State's banker; c) participate in a local, regional, or international payment system; d) act as a central counterparty, clearing agent, or depository of a payment system; e) provide or supply adequate guarantees to a payment system for settlement purposes;


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