The dangers of cuts in policy rates

The Institute of Social and Economic Studies (IESE) says that the manipulation of interest rates by reducing policy rates, may have effects on inflation, but contributes nothing to the gross domestic product, creating new jobs and income per capita .In a study released this month, says IESE cut interest rates even if no "is the only mechanism to stabilize inflation." A harsh criticism to the Bank of Mozambique, which this year fell only twice the reference rates.The reduction of interest rates determined by the Central Bank, also called interest rates or reference - and determine the market interest rates - has no influence on consumption levels, and the situation can cause inflation (general rise in prices of goods and services). This observation is conveyed in a bulletin issued to "The Economic Country" by the Institute of Social and Economic Studies (IESE), led by Mozambican economist Carlos Nuno Castel-Branco."With a reduction in reference rates would be expected to occur an increase in levels of consumption due to increased ability to acquire goods and services.However, the effect can be inverted, if not created domestic conditions to meet this increased demand, and in this case, it is expected to happen a high increase in price and thus increased levels of inflation, which in fact contradicts the expectations of monetary policy in place, "says the document called the IESE Information Development, Institutions and Social Analysis (IDEA).For the IESE, the disturbed that the Central Bank has been made of the reference rates have no impact on Gross Domestic Product (GDP), employment levels, or quality of life."A monetary policy focused exclusively on the reduction and control of inflation, through the manipulation of reference interest rates, may have effects on inflation targets set, however, does not extend to the impact on GDP or employment levels and income per capita (variable that measures the social level of citizens), "says IESE in the document.However, the IESE warns that the main criticism that is surrounding this issue is "not about the definition of inflation targeting as a monetary policy objective, but rather on the sole and exclusive pursuit of inflation targeting using essentially the process manipulation of interest rates to achieve the main objective, as if this were the only mechanism capable of stabilizing the inflation rate. "In the document, it is argued that the Central Bank intervention in the manipulation of interest rates ignores other determinants of inflation such as the process of price formation and the different behavior in different sectors of the economy, dependence on imported staple products and the factors that dictate the prices of these products in Mozambique.Are essentially three interest rates that determine the reference price of money in the market, in particular, Standing Lending Facility, which corresponds to the interest that commercial banks pay the debt contract with the Bank of Mozambique; Standing Deposit Facility, the interest that the Bank of Mozambique paid to commercial banks for deposits of excess liquidity that they can carry with him (represents a burden for the Bank of Mozambique) and required reserves coefficient, the percentage of money that commercial banks must deposit daily at the Central Bank to prevent any clashes.Rising interest rates have been undertaken by the monetary authority to reduce inflation (rising prices of goods and services).The IESE explains that, in its decisions, the Bank of Mozambique does not take into account the speculation that is generated within the economic agents. It is that several agents have interpreted the reduction of interest rates as a therapy for the high cost of bank credit (interest rates), since it implies a reduction in the obligations of commercial banks to the Central Bank, allowing that there is greater availability of money in economy."However, it is necessary to consider the effect of speculation that is generated by economic agents, as becomes clear perception that there is an expectation that the market interest rates may change resulting from disturbed in interest rates, therefore the performance of inflation rates, "he warns.To justify this position, IESE explains that "over the past three years (2008-2011), inflation has been quite volatile, and in almost all periods corresponding to the beginning of each year, prices saw significant reductions .Against this background, it can be inferred that after the court festivities, where prices of products each year suffer a process of speculation and increased significantly to start the year, consumers are forced to make some restrictions on their baskets as result of the excesses that occurred in November and December last year. " "As a result of reduced demand, maintaining supply levels, there is a reduction in the price level," continues the document. Therefore, this price reduction might be caused by the behavior of consumers and not the best performance of production processes and supply.Moreover, it offers a scenario in which the index of consumer prices (the mechanism used to measure inflation) varies significantly over the months, "and this is due to the absence of strategies that go beyond the ideological control of programmed targets and strategies to analyze the processes that underlie the current rates of inflation. "

ASSEMBLY APPROVES GENERAL STATE ACCOUNTS

The Mozambican parliament, the Assembly of the Republic, on Thursday approved the General State Accounts (CGE) for the 2010 financial year, with 162 deputies of the ruling Frelimo Party voting in favour, and 40 deputies from the former rebel movement Renamo and from the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM) voting against.The opposition’s main argument for rejecting the CGE was that the country’s supreme audit body, the Administrative Tribunal, had pointed to a number of errors, omissions and failings in the CGE – as it does every year.Frelimo deputy Sabado Malenza retorted that “at no point in its opinion did the tribunal said that the accounts should be rejected. What it did say was that the quality of the 2010 CGE was a great improvement on previous accounts”.Some of the opposition remarks were at the level of insult. Thus Renamo deputy Antonio Timba claimed that the government uses the state budget “as its personal cash machine”. His knowledge of Mozambican realities, however, was more than a little questionable – for example, he claimed that the Mozambican health service was so shoddy that “it requests a great deal of gymnastics to acquire a simple paracetamol”.Finance Minister Manuel Chang told reporters after the vote that speeches such as Timba’s were not to be taken seriously. “It’s just a joke – he’s trying to entertain people”, said Chang.“The Minister of Finance does not sign cheques, much less the President of the Republic”, he added. “It’s the computerized system that pays”.Some of the Renamo accusations were quite impossible, said Chang. Jose Samo Gudo claimed that wages were paid to over 1,000 people in the public administration, who lacked the proper documentation to be admitted into the state apparatus.But without those documents, nobody can get into the state payment system. The computerized state financial management system (e-SISTAFE) “doesn’t allow it”, said Chang.If the people mentioned by Samo Gudo were being paid, the money did not come from the state budget – though he admitted that the money might come from other sources, such as donor funds.As for the irregularities mentioned by the Administrative Tribunal, “the General Inspectorate of Finance is following them up”, said Chang. Indeed, even allegations of misuse of state funds in the press were always investigated.“If necessary, disciplinary and criminal proceedings are initiated”, the Minister. Furthermore, in cases where it had grounds to believe that a financial crime it been committed, the Administrative Tribunal itself can bring cases, and in the past has judged some state financial managers.Chang thought the criticisms made by Jose Manuel de Sousa, spokesperson for the MDM parliamentary group, were much more constructive. Sousa had spoken of the lack of a complete list of state assets, and the failure of the GGE to deal with assets that are written off or revalued. He also noted that the digitalization of state financial information was not yet complete. Change accepted much of this criticism, and said his Ministry is attempting to deal with these shortcomings.

MAYOR TELLS OFFICIALS NOT TO FEAR “IMPORTANT” NAMES

The Mayor of Maputo, David Simango, has told municipal officials that they must not evade their responsibilities, when they are threatened by other citizens, even if the latter invoke the names of “important people”.At a meeting of the Consultative Council of KaMpfumo municipal district, low level officials complained to Simango that when they tried to enforce the municipal by-laws on building regulations, on parking, and even on excessive noise they received threats.The officials, mostly neighbourhood secretaries and block chiefs, said the threats came from “influential” figures or their sons.Simango replied that “normally threats are a tactic used by the weak. They make use of the names of the strong to frighten people. What I want to say to this Consultative Council is that nobody strong defends the wrong things”. “Some people may use the name of the head of state”, he continued. “Others will use the names of ministers and deputy ministers, of soldiers, judges or prosecutors, or of the mayor, or the city councillors, or of witch-doctors”.Even when the people whose names are used really are involved, “they are wrong”, Simango insisted. “What should be clear is that in our country, nobody is above the law”.Administrative authorities, from the highest to the lowest official, “must know this: when the head of state undertakes building work, he asks for authorisation from the municipality”, the mayor continues. “When it isn’t authorised, he doesn’t do it. I have already authorised building work for the head of state”.When there was a recent fire in the house owned by President Armando Guebuza in the Nlhamankulu municipal district, to carry out the repairs, he had to seek municipal authorisation and go through all the formalities. “That is, he asks, he waits, he pays the fees, and if he doesn’t pay, we charge him”, added Simango. “So who is this person who doesn’t want to comply with his duties and says that his son is above the law”.“Sometimes people tell lies and use our names maliciously”, he continued. “Don’t be frightened by these names. I have no power to stop people using these names, but what I can do is ask the grass roots bodies not to be afraid, and to follow the law. No matter whose son you are, we are all Mozambicans and we all we obedience to the law”.Simango added that he has personally interrupted illegal building work undertaken by influential people. “If I had been afraid of these people, and if I was not certain that I was acting in accordance with the law, I would not have told them to stop”.

COAL OF AFRICA SEND FIRST SHIPMENT TO MAPUTO PORT

The South African based company Coal of Africa has made its first shipment of coal by rail from its Vele Colliery in Limpopo province to the port of Maputo.According to an announcement by the company, the load consists of 1,500 tonnes of thermal coal aboard 30 wagons, destined for the Matola Coal Terminal. It will then be shipped out to the Asian market.This is a test shipment to check the axle load capacity of the South African rail line between Groenbult and Hoedspruit. If the tracks are fit to carry the loads, the company intends to begin weekly trains.The Vele mine is located on the border with Zimbabwe, close to the Limpopo River, and contains 370 million tonnes of mineable coal. In the first phase, the mine is planned to produce one million tonnes of coking coal per year.Coal of Africa is a major partner of Maputo Port. Not only does it export coal from its other mines through the port, it also gave the port operator Grindrod a loan of 16 million US dollars in 2009 to finance the expansion of the Matola Coal Terminal.Coal of Africa has signed a memorandum of understanding with ArcelorMittal to provide coking coal for its steelworks in South Africa. However, it still intends to send an increasing amount of coking coal for export via Maputo Port.The company has recently increased its allocation to export three million tonnes of coal per annum via the port, and it has secured the option of taking up a hundred per cent of the increased capacity due to the planned expansion at the port.The company’s spokesperson, Jos Simson, told AIM that the company already uses the railway network to transport its coal to Maputo.This is an essential part of Mozambique’s plan for the development of the port. Last week Mozambican Transport Minister Paulo Zucula told reporters that some South African mining operators prefer to send their mineral exports to Maputo Port by road because of the prohibitive fees charged by the South African authorities for use of the rail system.Zucula said that the preference these exporters express for roads has nothing to do with the Mozambican rail system. According to Zucula, the railway between Ressano Garcia, on the South African border, and Maputo Port has a capacity for eight million tonnes or cargo a year, but is only moving six million tonnes.“What is happening is that the mining companies in South Africa pay high fees to use the railway to Ressano Garcia, which is intended to persuade them to use the port of Durban rather than Maputo”, said Zucula, “Rather than pay that price, they prefer to come to Maputo by road which is much cheaper”.The government would like Maputo Port to send rail wagons to Ressano Garcia, and load the South African cargo into them – but there are not enough spare wagons available.Zucula said that discussions have been held with the South African state rail company Transnet in an attempt to standardise transport prices, so that Maputo Port will no longer be at a disadvantage.

GOVERNMENT CANNOT FORCE TREASURY DEBTORS TO PAY

The Mozambican government has no mechanism whereby it can force companies who owe money to the Treasury to pay up, claims Finance Minister Manuel Chang.Interviewed by the independent television station STV, Chang said that the government was only legally entitled to use coercion in collecting tax arrears – and non-performing treasury loans do not fall into that category.“Only fiscal debt can be collected coercively, not debts to the Treasury”, he said. “If somebody doesn’t pay taxes, the government has mechanisms for dealing with that. That’s different from this debt”.The treasury loans, he pointed out, did not come from the state budget, but was donor money chanelled to companies via the Treasury, a form of foreign aid that is no longer used. The loans date back to the year 2000 – a few have been paid off entirely, but there are still 26 on the books. Of these, 14 companies have paid off some of the debt, while the other 13 have paid nothing at all, and include some enterprises that are now defunct.The issue of the Treasury loans always comes up at this time of year, when the General State Accounts (CGE) are debated in the country’s parliament, the Assembly of the Republic. The opposition claims that the loans were just a way of financing companies owned by senior figures in the ruling Frelimo Party.And indeed some of them do have prominent Frelimo members among their shareholders, but many of them do not, and some are owned by the state.“That money didn’t come from the budget”, Chang stressed. “It was donor money, and if we hadn’t used it, the donors would have taken it back”.The fact that the government is not about to drag the shareholders through the courts did not mean it was giving up the money as lost, the minister added. He was sure that, in time, the money would eventually be recovered.“We have the case of companies which have gone bankrupt, but there exist legal means of recovering the value”, Chang said. “We have acquired a company, experienced in this area, which will help us with the debt recovery”.The government has offered incentives to debtors who pay up voluntarily and in full – they are being offered a discount of 9.95 per cent. Alternatively, the repayment period can be extended by a further six years, but in that case the debtor will be obliged to pay not merely the debt, but also compound interest.

Chang said some progress is being made. In 2010, the debtors repaid over 455.5 million meticais (about 16.4 million US dollars), compared with 253.6 million meticais repaid in 2009.

The (bad) habit presidential

For a long time, the President, Armando Guebuza, stood out because of his speeches empty of fighting absolute poverty and the self-esteem.However, a few years to the end of his second term, the PR, as we know, has gained notoriety for another reason: allergy to any kind of criticism is the Press, is the society in general.Let it be said in defense of truth, has become a (bad) habit of the President to launch barbs for critics of his rule. The youth has been the main target of the President. The same young people who, during election campaigns, are called to fill trucks and sing "live".Last month, at the close of the Central Committee of the Mozambican Youth Organisation (OJM), Guebuza said that young people need to stop being busybodies and intriguers, and give themselves to work.Last Sunday, after accusing the youth wish to create amnesia in the former combatants to imply that it was necessary to fight for independence to liberate the country, struck again, claiming that social networks like Facebook and Twitter, have "the potential to become generators of representations in spaces, factories and endless dreams unattainable mirages and may lead to expectations that sidelined the culture of work, promoting the spirit of an outstretched hand."In fact, what the PR is an itchy feeling in your sensory system to realize that the Mozambican youth is gaining awareness of their rights, no longer simple beast of burden, going to question the policies or actions of the Government of turn, and ask the destination to which the nation is pushed.Moreover, young people have started to abandon the fallacious speeches caravans and full of vine and grapes delivered by any one who takes advantage of this layer of the population to continue to carry water to their mill.Young people have gained the knowledge that for years had to abdicate its responsibility and its political initiative in relation to the beloved country.Currently, no longer believe everything that glitters as a sign of development, because they realized that the development of a country is not measured by the success of a handful of businessmen linked to power, but the mental and cultural development of the population, and the ability to organize themselves to be protagonists of the struggle for their welfare.Also, what bothers the President is the fact that young people have awakened to the plight in which it is their country and came to the conclusion that politicians are not examples to anyone, are a real danger that the public thrive at the expense of the suffering of Mozambicans.What a politician lonely and wounded in his pride, Guebuza spend your ammo shooting in every direction without hitting a target no.Instead of giving "motivational talks", where young people could give tips on how to build an economic asset in such a short time, the President continues indifferent to voters, the people, young people and public opinion, demonstrating contempt absolute by some basic principles of democracy.(@verdade)

FRELIMO, OYE...EEEEEEEEEE!

The candidate of the ruling Frelimo Party in Wednesday’s mayoral by-election city in the southern Mozambican city of Inhambane, Benedito Guimino, has won – but with a significantly lower majority, in percentage terms, than his predecessor, Lourenco Macul, whose death precipitated the by-electionAccording to the parallel count, undertaken by Mozambique’s main observer group, the Electoral Observatory, a coalition of religious denominations and NGOs, 16,763 people cast votes at the city’s 54 polling stations. Guimino won 12,682 votes (78.5 per cent of all valid votes), while his sole opponent, Fernando Nhaca of the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM), won 3,475 (21.5 per cent).Turnout was low – only 38.24 per cent of Inhambane’s registered voters bothered to cast their ballots. But this is nothing exceptional - low turnout has become the norm in Mozambican municipal elections.The Electoral Observatory’s parallel count is in line with the preliminary figures announced by the state body that organises elections, the Electoral Administration Technical Secretariat (STAE). Rosa Macausse, the Inhambane STAE director, told reporters on Wednesday night that, in 50 out of the 54 polling stations, Guimino had won 11,383 votes (77.8 per cent) and Nhaca 3,237 votes (22.2 per cent).The result is, of course, an overwhelming Frelimo victory – hardly surprising, since Inhambane has always been a Frelimo stronghold. But it is much less overwhelming than the result of the last municipal election, held in 2008.Then Lourenco Macul cruised to victory with 90.94 per cent of the vote. There were two opposition candidates, from the former rebel movement Renamo and from the Party for Peace, Democracy and Development (PDD), who between them took 9.06 per cent of the vote.Thus Nhaca has more than doubled the opposition vote in Inhambane and has reduced the Frelimo majority from almost 91 per cent to 78.5 per cent. This is no mean achievement for the MDM. Statistically, it is a better performance than that of MDM candidate Manuel de Araujo in the by-election in the central city of Quelimane in December.Araujo won that election – but he started from a strong base of opposition support: Renamo and the PDD won 45.82 per cent of the Quelimane vote in 2008. In December, Araujo won with 63 per cent of the vote. He thus increased the opposition vote in Quelimane by about 38 per cent. But Nhaca has increased the opposition vote in Inhambane by 145 per cent.It doesn’t feel like that to the MDM whose immediate response was outrage that they had not won. MDM General Secretary Luis Boavida issued a statement on Wednesday night claiming that the heavy police presence in Inhambane had intimidated the voters.He pointed to ugly incidents in which, according to the MDM, 53 of its members were detained at polling stations, and MDM drivers were prevented from taking food to the MDM polling station monitors.The police also briefly detained well-known human rights lawyer Custodio Duma for daring to take photographs outside a polling station.

We will continue to annoy them

The President, Armando Guebuza is unstoppable. Do not miss an opportunity to send messages to (many) critics of its governance and the Frelimo party. On Friday, Guebuza took the microphones and radio and television to leave a message to those who disagree with their model of governance. Speaking as chairman of the Association of Combatants of National Liberation Struggle (ACLLN) held at the Central School of FRELIMO in Matola, Guebuza said that the mission of Frelimo and its government should be to continue to "annoy" your critics."We fighters of the liberation struggle, we should be proud for our deeds. We know that some want us to have shame for having participated in the liberation of our homeland. They are fulfilling their mission, we do our part. They did not like our action. They did not like to see colonialism outside our country. Mozambique did not like to see in the hands of Mozambicans. But we continue to do our part. And our part is to continue to irritate them. Our part is to continue to say that what we did was worth it and will continue to do so, "said Armando Guebuza.The poignant words of Armando Guebuza deserved a standing ovation, standing on the part of comrades that filled the meeting room of the school party.Guebuza has continued to speak, citing statistics to support the developmental theories of government, but which are not reflected in practice in people's lives. Nothing new.What was noteworthy speech of the Head of State, was the message that those who criticize the action of the past and current Frelimo and its own governance.The only thing that was new in the speech of Armando Guebuza was the term "we will continue to annoy them," but the vocabulary aggressive towards critics is nothing new. The vocabulary of the stage battle became the modus operandi of the Head of State and in fact has been interpreted as "despair and discomfort." Remember that it was in the same room where he spoke on Friday, the Central Party School - Matola, who three years ago President Guebuza called the critics of "apostles of doom," it was in 2009.Since the critics called "apostles of doom," the head of state was invented another way to attack those who disagree with him. "Detractors", "talkative", "intriguers," lazy "," marginal "are other terms of the political vocabulary of President Armando Guebuza. On Friday the head of state chose to give an assurance that ultimately governs to "annoy" your critics and not to develop the country "Our part is to continue to annoy them," what is said the head of State and is recorded on video cassettes and voice recorders and media. (B. Nhamirre)

Social networks are a "Club of Lamentations"

The President, Armando Guebuza, again, this Sunday, the third time in the same week, send messages to young people. This time, Guebuza said that technological development has the potential to turn into spaces that generate unreachable dreams."These technological developments have the potential to become generators of representations in spaces, factories and endless dreams unattainable mirages and may lead to expectations that sidelined the culture of work, promoting the spirit of an outstretched hand. The fact that the press of a button to find the solution of communication desired, can be extrapolated to the tendency to seek immediate and simple answers to complex problems. We can be forgotten that the structural challenges we are facing in this area or that require sustained and sustainable responses, therefore, take longer to appear. "

MDM does not approve , but does not take insults

Members of Parliament, stands by Frelimo and Renamo, returned to Parliament to use the exchange of insults that have nothing to do with the people who elected them as representatives.In two sessions on Wednesday and Thursday are reserved for questions and answers to the Government, injurious words between the two parties have dominated the debate. After Wednesday the Frelimo parliamentary group of MPs have dubbed the bench Renamo of "Rats", today was the turn of the parliamentary "Partridge," by Mr Arnaldo Chalaua, the constituency of Nampula, returning the epithets and draw the same coin Guebuza and Frelimo "murderers and men without character."Chalaua Armando Guebuza has called it - the president and Frelimo party - of being a "ringleader of the Frelimo government which proved quite incapable, tired, obsolete, wrecked and sunk.""The Frelimo government appears to be quite unable, tired, decrepit, and unrecoverable victim, why should the lords to resign from the ringleader and his cronies," said the deputy spokesman for Renamo.Arnaldo Chalaua back to long ago to remember that the president of Frelimo and the Republic, Armando Guebuza, "was the author of the exterminations in Niassa re-education camps." He added that Guebuza is "a man without a sense of what goes to say with his age."For Renamo, there is no justification for the country continue to live in severe poverty level. He went further saying the country is being impoverished by bad sectoral policies developed and defended by Frelimo that "resists change."According to Renamo, education is the key factor for the formation of men, and why you came back to ask about the quality of education in the country.
The Minister of Education was accused of "reinventing the wheel" by allowing "students sit on the ground in a country full of wood," while "the children of the minister or sit on the floor."Renamo also questioned the impact of so-called fund to fight urban poverty, taking into account, according to his words, that "all roads are wide open in the cities and the cities continue to see themselves huts of reeds.""The energy of course, is of low quality everywhere in the country," added Chalaua adding that "there is lack of capacity in the field of police to combat crime."Arnold concluded Chalaua accusing the Rapid Intervention Force (FIR) be the group of "terrorists" who advises the Frelimo in the fight against democracy."Terrorism is the FIR. Terrorist is the governor of Nampula remains relentless in the pursuit of women civil servants, to the satisfaction of their sexual appetites, sowing their husbands total insecurity, "he said.Mr Renamo ended by saying that "today in Nampula husbands with wives in the public sector do not know if women in the service when they return to the houses or not. If they come back, come back with the belly of the big boss, a disgusting attitude. ""They did the same in the extermination camps in Niassa. Indeed, the death of Philip Samuel Magaia was more because he had a girlfriend and how it was very beautiful "xingondo" Zambezia cleared the man with the bullet lodged on his feel. All because the boss needed him the bride, "recalled Arnold Chalaua. He was referring to the death of Philip Samuel Magaia, first husband of Josina Muthemba, that after widow would marry Samora Machel becoming known for Josina Machel. Samora would also be in charge of Philip Samuel Magaia.
 The Frelimo bench that on Wednesday called for Renamo of "rats", yesterday repudiated the aggressive response also Renamo. In response to the statements of the Renamo parliamentary, countertop deputy Alfredo Gamito Frelimo requested the floor to say that "Frelimo rejects vigorously the attitude and behavior of some members of Renamo's bench.""Renamo is now in despair and breakdown. Not sure what to say or what to do, "said Alfredo Gamito, a brother of Hermenegildo Gamito President of the Constitutional Council ..
 Meanwhile, the parliamentary group of the Democratic Movement of Mozambique (MDM), the voice of Rep. Jose de Sousa, said that "the reality on the ground sends word that the achievements of the Frelimo government are lacking, as is noted a lack of political will and weakness of public institutions in pursuit of objectives. "Overall, the entire parliamentary opposition said he was not satisfied with the answers given by the executive, while Frelimo "welcomes and encourages the Government to continue working.""I would say that what the government came here to say not much different from what has been said on other occasions. For us it's a national shame when it comes to education. It's a shame when it argues that the electricity is quality when in fact it will appear with several cuts, "De Sousa said in a statement to Canalmoz. (Bernard Alvaro)

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Governor loses ground

The Democratic Movement of Mozambique (MDM) is accumulating members and supporters in the province of Zambezia, and people use party flags to show your affection with this political force. In homes, shops and other places go hoisted flags of MDM and that is nervous to leave the provincial governor, Francisco Itai Meque. Before winning election to mayor of the capital of Zambezia this scenario not seen in Quelimane. The governor of Zambezia, Francisco Itai Meque, had already ordered to the base state representatives not to allow the attachment of MDM Party flags, but the orientation resulted in nothing.The "Cmoz" worked for a week in Zambezia. Of the 17 districts, traveled just over eight districts: Ilé, High Molocué, Gile, Mocuba, Namacurra, Morrumbala, Mopeia and Lugela, respectively. And to our surprise, almost all the province's dressed to the MDGs. Before any of this happened. We found that the situation could have serious repercussions for the usual leaders of Zambezia, because after "dropping" the Frelimo first secretary of the province level, the next figure is likely to "fall" is its governor. It has been announced that the drop is only Itai Meque the head of state to find a little time available to operate the change of governor. Curious fact is that many flags are located in the vicinity of public and sometimes even close to Frelimo buildings, districts, administrative posts and even locations. Even with almost all the flags in hand, was not easy to talk to any member of the MDGs in their respective districts. Those who agreed to give an interview, was very scared and after having done everything to prove that we are journalists. In addition to the badge that identifies us as journalists, we had to display the identity card and at least provássemos that have nothing with the ruling party and that we were much less in the service of Frelimo. Sit in a real terror everywhere and the fear of citizens is illustrative. In eight districts, only four members of the Democratic Movement of Mozambique, MDM, agreed to speak to "Cmoz", but under certain conditions: no permission to photograph and even record voice. Also, we were asked to remain anonymous, fearing reprisals. In Morrumbala, a member of MDM said: "My friend, so I'm talking to you, if they know that I'm going to kill me and my family," because they "have come to threaten me often." Oo interviewed had no hesitation in saying: "Morrumbala already achieved." Also assured that "positive changes began in 2014 in this district. We've been relying on mobsters who do nothing for our people. " Most people are in hiding. An almost all the districts where we, the conversation corner is the "good future of Mozambique under the leadership of the MDGs." Even young members in the Mozambique Youth Organisation (OJM), social organization, Frelimo Party, moved: "We are tired and our only hope is the MDM. We are here on Frelimo paper, but we will prove in the next elections we are tired of being exploited. " As for the governor Itai Meque, it is clear who lost the battle against the MDGs. "It took the defeat in the city of Quelimane in the interim last December, and the popularity of Frelimo in Zambezia fell to the ground." "The next two years will dictate the story, or" the emperor has no clothes "or coat with sheepskin will triple." (A. Silva)

RINGLEADERS OF STUDENT PROTEST MUST LEAVE ALGERIA

The Mozambican government has not backed down from its position that the ringleaders of last month’s protest by Mozambican students at the country’s embassy in Algiers have forfeited their scholarships and must return to the country.Replying to questions from deputies in the Mozambican parliament, the Assembly of the Republic, Martins added that all the other students at Algerian universities will be obliged to sign a solemn undertaking promising “to adopt a responsible stance and behaviour worthy of Mozambican students in higher education”.The student protest, involving about 80 of the 183 scholarship holders in Algeria, erupted on 19 March when, without prior warning, they occupied the embassy premises, in pursuit of their demand for an increase in the allowance of 150 US dollars a month which they receive from the Mozambican government.
Martins claimed that the students had intended to take the ambassador and other members of the embassy staff hostage. They failed to do so, but their demonstration closed the embassy for four days. They refused the ambassador’s invitation to send a small group to speak with him, and even refused to speak on the phone with Octavio de Jesus, the director of the Education Ministry’s Scholarship Institute (IBE).Martins said 579 Mozambican students are studying on scholarships in 25 countries, on courses in areas “that are of great importance for the socio-economic development of the country”. Through the bilateral agreements that Mozambique has signed with these countries, their governments provide them with complete scholarships.
“Despite the financial restrictions we face, Mozambique also gives the students an additional monthly allowance”, the Minister added.In the Algerian case, the students’ tuition fees, accommodation and meals are paid for by the Algerian government, while the Mozambican authorities provide a 500 dollar installation allowance plus 150 dollars a month. In addition, Mozambique pays the air tickets to Algeria, visa fees and excess baggage costs.Martins said the students were aware of the conditions that awaited them in Algeria, since they had been informed by the IBE, by the Algerian embassy in Maputo and by former students who had studied there.He added that attending high education is a privilege. Only one in 240 Mozambicans is at university. And studying abroad was a rare privilege indeed – one in 40,000 Mozambicans is on a scholarship abroad. Martins believed that nothing justified the occupation of the Algiers embassy. “This is not the behaviour expected of Mozambican students”, he said. “It is an expression of contempt for the sacrifices made by the Mozambican government and people in order to ensure good quality training”.

BICYCLE OWNERS DENY MDM LINK

The purchaser of 18 bicycles seized by police in the southern Mozambican province of Inhambane has categorically denied that the bikes were intended to support the Inhambane mayoral by-election campaign of the opposition Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM). The owner, South African citizen Sean Lange, is adamant that they are simply the central part of his efforts to open a bike hire business in Tofo, one of Inhambane’s best-known tourist resorts.According to Lange, who spoke from Tofo by phone, Tofo is a compact area where tourists could easily move around by bicycle. He therefore decided to team up with local businessman Paulo Ernesto Pedro, to build a shop where they could rent out bikes.Lange told  the business has all the necessary licences, which have been paid for and issued. He stated that he put in a purchase order for 18 bicycles from a fully legal company in Chimoio called Baisikeli.Baisikeli is a Danish based company that rents out bikes in the capital city, Copenhagen, but also sends old bikes to Mozambique and Sierra Leone where they are repaired and sold. So far, the company has exported 3,500 bikes.In Mozambique the company has a workshop in Chimoio, and works in close cooperation with the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) and the Danish authorities in Maputo.The company’s spokesperson in Copenhagen, Henrik Smedegaard Mortensen, confirmed to AIM that the 18 bicycles were legally imported into Mozambique in June 2011.It seems that the problems arose when attempting to transport the bikes to Tofo. Mortensen states that a Danish citizen was hired by Baisikeli to deliver the bikes from Chimoio to Tofo.
However, the driver and a representative of Baisikeli, Stefan Lars Edlund, were stopped en route by police in the town of Massinga. They were taken to Inhambane, where the truck and bikes have been impounded.Despite the story only appearing in the daily newspaper “Noticias” on Monday, Lange states that the truck was stopped weeks ago, and that he has lost vital business over the Easter holiday because he has no bikes.Both “Noticias” and the independent television station STV reported suspicions that the bicycles were intended to support the MDM – although the police refused to confirm or deny this rumour. Lange said that the rumour of a link to the MDM is not true. He lamented that “in reality, it was just us trying to set up a business”.The police say the Danish citizen driving the truck was detained because he is living illegally in Mozambique, since his identification and residence permit for foreigners (DIRE) expired in 2008. The police also claimed he had no documents on the ownership and import of the bikes.

Bantustan?

The essence of decentralization of a state lies in the decentralization of powers of the Central Government for residents of municipalities, which means empowering citizens to think of each municipality in the solutions of their own problems to think about the development of its territory without the remotes usual central executive stationed in Maputo. But it has been difficult for them to drop the bone. They need to keep up appearances that they respect the autonomy, but want them to continue to use their "homing" to go from serving opportunities you want to continue to guindarem.Autarcizar means empowering the residents of the municipalities to organize themselves and find solutions to their problems and design ways to achieve their dreams. But should not the masters of the Central Government and the center of power, this process walk fast.
No one better than their own citizens of a municipality knows what is good for you. So why will forever come the other chart your destiny?
What has emerged is that municipalities have continued in most cases to be delegations of the Central Government. Remain in most cases, the true fiefdoms central power. Maputo decide who should be the candidate, falcatruam processes of local authorities when citizens allow themselves to fall asleep, how to decide the "puppet" to govern and decide to "them" when the "drone" should cease to govern if we do not obey the rules of "elite" that made him a figure. On your remote control "accomplice" place accomplishes what they want. The "puppet" is there for them to pave the way ...
In 2008, the 3rd s municipal elections, against all reasonably good performance was shown that during the term, Dr. Eneas Comiche was sacrificed. Not that recandidatasse allowed him to succeed in Maputo. In its place was launched David Simango. He left to earn at least a "wing" of the Frelimo party, but left to lose residents of the capital of the country Just go outside to see what the city council today and compare now with what was a few years ago when Comiche was mayor.Who won with it were precisely those who intended to "rob" the city, its spaces and the potential to spread and well managed could bring more happiness to many, instead of increasing misery that everyone watched.
The business of occupation of land and ruins in the urban area of ​​Maputo flowed for some "buddies" with the output of Comiche, the lack of a better. People increasingly complain more ...
In 2011 the scene was repeated. The leadership of Frelimo had three aldermen North cease. Reason: wanted to rule the cities autarquicamente and not be remote controlled from Maputo by their "comrades." Eventually forced to give up.Now is the time of Inhambane in the "interim". The mandate of the previous mayor was interrupted by the death of Macul. Opened immediately and a new opportunity for the assault on the city. Macul never managed to rule the land. The struggle waged against the submission that eventually led him to become ill and succumb. A man is not iron! The "hawks" finally beat him. He fell ill and died. In the brotherhood that had got just got to do. A warning to Guimino or any other puppet who accepts an ...
The land located on the waterfront where the late mayor of Inhambane not let offenses rise up the environment, a few days after his death began to emerge that threatened resumption of Macul always prevented what happened. There are several cases. The best known case is the land on the seafront and the buildings Tofinho forest reserve in Tofo, the first occupied by the Tradewinds, a South African company whose partners are in another real estate business, members of Prime Minister Ali Aires they decided to give legs to their appetites in Inhambane in the logic of having the field who give coverage to their dreams, even if they are against the land of dreams. Guimino up to the point of being forced to return to Quissico - where he has lived since January - to Inhambane, to be a candidate. What bad the other candidates who were the candidates!? ... And what does an "obedient"! ...
There has been Aires governor in Inhambane. Failed to leave work you see there, but came out and full of interest, as demonstrated in published articles in the Mozambique Channel. Now launches Guimino, the difficult endeavor of trying to become the successor of Macul. Imagining that Guimino was elected mayor of Inhambane, and could send the company Tradewinds, protected by Aires Ali, stop destroying the environment?
It was exactly Aires Ali, member of the Frelimo political party, which was last week in Inhambane, anticipating the "campaign". Has been to Inhambane Aires Ali defend the interests of residents and the municipality, or their own? With cynical impudence, Aires Ali said he had gone to Inhambane as a member of the Frelimo Political Commission, but was received and made use of the entire state apparatus, being Prime Minister, thus, once again, an example of how money and means are available when you need to maintain power. Never lacking resources and taxpayers' money when it comes to fighting for power. Missing always means when you need to do work essential to the citizens.
Inhambane Aires Ali said that his party and its candidate should win Guimino. "We must win the election to honor the memory of our member," in allusion to the deceased Lawrence Macul.  Macul not sponsored illegal construction on land prohibited by law. Vehemently opposed to it. Would this memory Macul Aires Ali was referring to? - Surely not! What Aires Ali wants is the power to Maputo municipal remains subdued. In the city of Quelimane, the "coarse" Frelimo party were trying to blur the image of the young Manuel de Araujo and ended up blurring the image of his own candidate, Lawrence Abubacar. Imagine yourself in the town of Inhambane Frelimo candidate these "interim" came out victorious with the support of Aires Ali & Company: Guimino who would pay the bills? Inhambane to residents or to the "big shots" that have indicated? We speak from the actual accounts. Not the mere exercise of appearing in the municipal assembly to read a report of accomplishments that are often far from those that the people wanted. When there is! ...
Achievements, we are seeing now again in Inhambane. Occur only at election time. The fear of being beaten up is to bring electricity to those who wanted and never got it in almost forty years. The fear of the voters have!? Or fear of an opponent who is part of a team with good references municipal?
Who knows what the vote of each citizen tired of promises may be the end of the abuses that seemed eternal, with last minute work ends only by proving that the vote is only interested to maintain power. The locals already know now that your vote is needed to ensure the "pasture" of "coarse" for another time. It is up to them to decide what they want: whether to continue or drones want to spend really be masters of their destiny. For those convinced that the power is eternally yours, the people only serves to legitimize the elections. With these elections in Inhambane, Quelimane after they are created all the conditions for another municipal territory ceases to be a fief of the "lords of Maputo", where the figures of the nomenklatura of the party in power appear to extract all that is wealth in local authorities, as is happening across the country where they still let them do their ...
The residents, represented by aldermen remote control and can scream "enough." Even if you yell loudly, "we decided on our territory", which is the mayor orders from their "masters" sitting in Maputo that will manage the assets acquired by the country apart, that can do nothing. He himself becomes a victim of the process. This would Guimino if elected. If municipalities are to be remote controlled by the executive, there is no need for the country municipalise The decentralization makes sense only when it is to benefit the locals. The remote control is an alternative to those who have no ties to those who want power in the entire land area so that your grass is full, from the "throne" in Maputo.
Residents must be convinced that the only way to make way for achievements in their own interests is not to allow the "vultures" continue to martyr them ...
To be seen, in this election "interim" in Inhambane on 18 April, if voters want as Quelimane, begins a process in which the real power is no longer in Maputo. View will be whether or not your municipality ceases to be one of the pastures of the "vultures". Voting is secret and the hunt is under way to vote in the land to which Vasco da Gama called "Land of Good People", when there came in his capacity as "our first tourist" as he liked to point out the late Lawrence Macul. ( MozaC)

Use of state property for advertising

The president of the National Elections Commission (CNE), Joao Leopoldo da Costa, in his speech during the election campaign began in the "interim" Inhambane warned that it is forbidden the use of state property in the election campaign but is being ignored by their comrades in the Inhambane are completely disallow. The provincial governor, Thirty Augustine, the campaign is doing to support the candidate of the car with the Frelimo state, since taking up the hunt for votes.Thirty Augustine is using the protocol of car Toyota Prado bearing the registration plate ABC 666 MP and continues to be escorted by a contingent of police, even when in office of his party. That is, the governor is using the same team and means the Government to campaign in favor of Frelimo.The largest of the state media apparatus was sported at the official opening of the campaign of his party in the neighborhood of Conguiana, one of 22 neighborhoods in the city of Inhambane.It is unknown whether the president of the CNE will make a warning or some other entity that they will.Remember that John Leopoldo da Costa, president of the CNE, is also Frelimo party, (pictured in the white shirt) logo militantly subject to the hierarchies of the same political formation that is part of the governor and the candidate Thirty Guimino Benedito. (L. da Conceição)

GUNS IN POLICE KEPT PRIVATE

The district commander of the Mozambican Police (PRM) in the district of Nacala Porto, northern province of Nampula, is arrested for allowing illegal entry and storage facilities in the Local control of the corporation, weapons of war outside.The material in question consists of 62 automatic weapons (like AK 47, G3 and FN), 8,465 ammunition and two binoculars, belonging to various operators of boats are moored in the port of Nacala. Police believe that the operators used this material to protect themselves from pirate attacks in the Indian Ocean, but this was not the knowledge of autoridades.As Mozambican authorities had no information on this or on the movement of weapons in the country belonging to operators vessels, much less on the use of police facilities to store such material bélico.O district commander, only identified as Arnaldo, personally negotiated with the operators of vessels to pass the store that war material on the premises of District Command, a business that was touted by a Zimbabwean company name GDI Consultores.Arnaldo did this work with their subordinates four agents, all now held, and in return were paid by checks issued by the nominal GDI Consultants. A check with the highest value was 300 thousand Meticais ($ 10,700), but there are many other values ​​such as 20,000, 15,000 Meticais, among others that were issued from time to time. "We believe this unusual occurrence is happening over a few months, since last year, an act totally hidden from the Provincial Command and General Command," said the spokesman of the General Command of the PRM, Pedro Cossa, speaking today in Maputo, imprensa.Neste moment, besides the master and four agents of the PRM, are also arrested two Zimbabwean citizens GDI Consultants and a company representative load of goods Mocargo.A Police said they were investigating more about this case, a when it was also created a team responsible for verifying all over the country, if there are other situations like that. Commander Arnold found himself working in Nacala Porto two years ago.