HOTEL MANAGER ACCUSED OF ATTACKING WORKERS

The British manager of a hotel in the southern Mozambican tourist resort of Vilankulo has been accused of beating three of his Mozambican workers. The incident occurred on 18 April during celebrations of the 50th anniversary of Vilankulo being raised to the status of a town. The hotel workers received a phone call from the airport from visitors wishing to obtain rooms. “When they arrived we allocated rooms to them”, the workers said. They saw nothing wrong with this, since the raison d’etre of a hotel is to provide travelers with rooms. There was no need to inform the general manager, since the hotel has a reception manager, responsible for arranging accommodation.  But when the general manager, Simon Armor, arrived, he demanded to know who had given the new guests rooms. Aware of the manager’s irritable temper, at first they said nothing.Then, according to the workers, after shouting at them in the reception, Armor took them into his office, locked the door and began to beat them. “Mozambicans are worthless”, Armor is alleged to have shouted. “That day the head of the reception knew that we would accommodate certain guests. But the general manager did not wait for reports from department heads. There was no need for him to intervene”, said one of the workers. “He should have waited for the report from the head of reception to know what had happened. Based on that, he could have acted, but without hitting us”.The three workers took the case to the police, but when, after a few days, the police took no action, the resorted to the District Attorney’s office, with a note provided by the trade union committee at the hotel. The three have been working at the hotel since December 2013. They said that since then, Armor has sacked about 20 workers with no good cause. But when AIM contacted Armor over the phone, he denied all the workers’ accusations. Speaking through his assistant, Gino Andrade, he said there was no truth in the workers’ claims. There had been no beatings, and he had just taken the workers into his office to speak with them. Andrade said he had been a witness to this, although the workers claim he was not in the hotel that day.In early May, the Inhambane Provincial Director of Labour, Joao Almeida, told AIM that investigations confirmed the violent attack by Armor on the three workers. He said Armor had eventually admitted the attack, and the case was now with the courts. 

MARCELINO DOS SANTOS CELEBRATES HIS 85TH BIRTHDAY

“As long as there’s a revolution to make, there’s no time to die!”, declared veteran Mozambican nationalist Marcelino dos Santos, on Tuesday, as he celebrated his 85th birthday.Dos Santos was a founder member of the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo) in 1962, and remains a member of the Frelimo Central Committee to this day.

Speaking to reporters he insisted that, despite almost four decades of independence, the Mozambican revolution is not yet over. He urged young Mozambicans “not to sit back and fold their arms”.Asked about the secret of his longevity, Dos Santos replied “I look at things politically. The secret to reaching this age is to know what we want. But what we want must be something popular, otherwise nobody will be interested”.Key to living a long life, he insisted, “is the capacity to envision the future, and awareness of the objectives we wish to achieve”.Dos Santos spent 27 years in exile, fighting for the independence of Mozambique. He admitted that he had experienced difficult moments “particularly because I was so far from my family”.

Even in his ninth decade, he had every intention of remaining active. “I have said this before – but as long as there’s a revolution to be made, there’s no time to die!”, dos Santos insisted. “I said that in 1975 (the year of Mozambican independence), and I’m repeating it now, in 2014”.As for the forthcoming elections, dos Santos said he gives his unconditional support to the Frelimo presidential candidate, former defence minister Filipe Nyusi. “I am sure that Nyusi will win these elections, because I think this feeling is in the hearts of many people”, he declared.Nyusi paid a visit to dos Santos on Tuesday night, in order “to pay homage to someone who, since the days of his youth, has dedicated his life to the cause of freedom”.Dos Santos told Nyusi that it was “imperative” that he win the October election.

LAM FORMALISES ACQUISITION OF NEW BOEINGS

Mozambique Airlines (LAM) on Wednesday signed an agreement in Maputo formalizing a contract with the aircraft manufacturer Boeing for the acquisition of three “New Generation” Boeing 737s.The contract represents an investment of 225 million US dollars by LAM, which intends to use the new planes to diversify its routes on the domestic and regional markets. The first of the new planes should arrive in May 2015, and the others will arrive in the two subsequent years. Each of the planes will have been manufactured in the year of its delivery. The new acquisitions bring to 15 the number of planes in the LAM fleet. Speaking at the ceremony, the LAM Chief Executive Office, Marlene Manave, said the acquisition of the Boeing 737s was part of the company’s strategic plan to expand and strengthen its fleet, and to rationalise its resources.Manave said that LAM needs planes that are rather larger than the ones it is currently flying and which can travel longer distances without the need to refuel. 

The Next-Generation 737-700s can accommodate 126 passengers, seated in two travel classes. Boeing claims that they are the most fuel efficient single aisle aircraft in production. They have a range of 5,500 kilometres (almost a third more than earlier 737 models), a cruising speed of almost 950 kilometres an hour, and can fly at a maximum altitude of 41,000 feet. “These aircraft will be used in all the provincial capitals on the domestic market, as well as on routes to Ethiopia and Zambia”, Manave said. “They will also fly to Dubai and Mumbai from Nacala”. (A new international airport is under construction in the northern city of Nacala).For his part, Miguel Santos, the director of Boeing for Africa, said this purchase marks the return of LAM to the US company (a “return” because previous purchases by LAM were of Embraer-190s from Brazil and Bombardier Q-400 from Canada). He claimed that with the “New Generation” fuel consumption is 27 per cent less than with the older models of the 737, and it has lower maintenance costs. Santos declared that Boeing was has a 65 per cent share of the African aircraft market. Deputy Transport Minister Manuela Ribeiro encouraged LAM and Boeing to expand their cooperation in the technical field and to train new professionals for the aeronautical industry.

CUSTOMS EXEMPTIONS

Large volumes of imports are made ​​through the ports of Nacala and Beira in the north and center of the country, respectively, and as the investigation found the Center for Public Integrity, the imported duty-free goods supplying to major traders of Nacala and Beira . Nearly a month, the Center for Public Integrity (CIP) began publishing a series of investigative reports on the mafia tax evasion that settled in the country by resorting to import of goods as intended for internal use by the parties politicians when, in fact, are intended for general trade in the country's first publication in the series dealt with the import cars from Japan and Durban (South Africa) by the extra-parliamentary political parties. The investigation continues and now we bring to the public the outlines of exemptions used by Frelimo to import various goods and supply the domestic market, damaging the state. cases presented here, duly supported by official documents proving they are just sample of large imports are promoted by the ruling party. Actually the Frelimo party fails to import only "transmit" their right of exemption to commercial agents in exchange for money that should go to the state treasury in payment of taxes. Motorcycles, freezers, tires, notebooks, batteries, shawls are among several, some imported by commercial agents with tax laws Frelimo goods. A commercial agent is buying the goods abroad and have passed the bill on behalf of the Frelimo party. When the merchandise arrives in Mozambique, Frelimo calls in exemption from customs duties, as if the goods were of their membership. Once the exemption, the Frelimo party receives a percentage of the money from customs duties which the commercial agent should pay. The other part is with the trader. The only entity that exits to lose in this business is the State and by extension the citizen that would be the ultimate beneficiary of the diverted tax. 

The attached documents are related to the processes listed below. Motorcycles In June 2012, five containers containing 690 motorcycles entered the country, imported by Frelimo Dubai, the company acquired RADAKRISHIN CO General Trading (LLC). The stated price of the merchandise (including shipping and insurance) is 130,970.00 Dollars. The goods left the port of Chong Qing YU Xing and the ship was unloaded in Mozambique, at the port of Nacala. During the same month of June 2012, over 690 motorcycles arrived at the Mozambique port of Nacala, imported on behalf of the Frelimo party. The motorcycles were purchased in the same company as the first (RADAKRISHIN General Trading). Also cost 130,970.00 Dollars. Were loaded at the port of the ship ChongQing Tai Bang. Already in July the same year (2012), the Frelimo party imported five containers containing 690 motorcycles, the company acquired Top International Trade in Hong Kong. The motorized, according to the invoice of purchase, freight and insurance of the goods also totaled 130,970.00 Dollars. Were born on 24.07.2012 in the Port of Shanghai, China and unloaded in the port of Nacala Mozambique by the vessel MAERSK SELETAR. (CLICK HERE TO Related Documents)

CENTRAL COMMITTEE APPROVES FRELIMO MANIFESTO

The Central Committee of Mozambique’s ruling Frelimo Party on Tuesday approved the party’s manifesto for the presidential, parliamentary and provincial elections scheduled for 15 October – but it will not be made fully public until the election campaign begins.However, the main pillars of the manifesto are “the consolidation of national unity, of the democratic rule of law, and of social justice; strengthening the capacity of the state to continue responding effectively to the desires of the people; the promotion of sustainable social and economic development, the creation of wealth and the fight against poverty; and the consolidation of the culture of peace and democracy”. The Central Committee also approved a set of directives for the internal Frelimo elections which will select candidates for the parliamentary and provincial elections. The spokesperson for the meeting, Damiao Jose, said that the basic principle for a slate of Frelimo candidates remained that of “renewal in continuity”. This means, for example, that in the Frelimo lists of parliamentary candidates, 60 per cent should consist of people who are already parliamentary deputies, while the other 40 per cent should be new blood.Frelimo currently holds 191 of the 250 seats in the country’s parliament, the Assembly of the Republic. On the rule of 40 per cent new blood, 76 of these deputies will not be eligible to stand for a further term. In his speech closing the Central Committee meeting, President Armando Guebuza declared that democracy in Frelimo is not a piece of political theatre, but is deep rooted. Frelimo, he said, “is the fruit and promoter of democracy, a democracy it has been cultivating throughout its 50 years of existence”.

 It was because of its commitment to democracy, he added, that Frelimo had galvanised Mozambicans “to fight against colonialism, oppression, humiliation, discrimination and ignorance to win freedom, dignity, equality, knowledge and self-esteem”. Anyone who imagined that Frelimo was nearing its end, or was about to split, merely showed they did not know the party, Guebuza said, and “they were surprised with the image we all projected at the end of sharp debates in the previous meeting of the Central Committee, images of a cohesive party united around its candidate, Filipe Nyusi”.The previous meeting took place from 27 February to 2 March, and the main item on the agenda was the election of the Frelimo presidential candidate. Five names were proposed, and former defence minister Filipe Nyusi won, although the runner-up, former prime minister Luisa Diogo, forced him to a second round. Since then, Frelimo leaders have insistently announced their whole-hearted backing for Nyusi, and Diogo has rejected rumours spread in social media that she might run as an independent. Frelimo, Guebuza said, was born of the democratic will of Mozambicans to unite against the colonial invaders. Right from the moment Frelimo was created, he stressed, it has elected its leaders by secret ballot, and the election of Nyusi as presidential candidate was no exception.Guebuza said the documents approved by the Central Committee “enshrine the message of inclusion, confidence, hope, change and belief that the individual and collective determination of Frelimo can bring about changes in the living conditions of Mozambicans”.He was convinced that Frelimo has emerged from the Central Committee meeting and from last week’s Cadre Conference more united than ever, and ready to face the challenge of winning a resounding victory in the October elections. 

LOW INFLATION IN APRIL

The National Statistics Institute (INE) announced on Thursday that the rate of inflation in Mozambique in April, as measured by the consumer price indices for the three largest cities (Maputo, Nampula and Beira), was just 0.12 per cent,.This is a considerable decline on the previous month, when inflation had been 0.91 per cent. It is also less than half the inflation rate of April 2013, which was 0.25 per cent.During April, there were significant increases in the price of cassava flour (9.3 per cent), cabbage (7.5 per cent), lettuce (4.5 per cent), pineapples (30.6 per cent), and groundnuts (0.9 per cent). There was a surprising reduction in the average price of alcoholic drinks which fell by 1.05 per cent. There were also slight falls in the prices of clothing and footwear, and of furniture. But the prices of most of the items in the basket of goods and services on which the consumer price index is calculated remained unchanged between March and April.The accumulated inflation in the first four months of the years was 2.42 per cent, lower than the figure for January-April 2013, which was 3.08 per cent.The price rises over the entire previous year (1 May 2013 to 30 April 2014) was 2.87 per cent. Again, this was a decline on the previous year (1 May 2012 to 30 April 2013), when inflation had been 4.79 per cent.There were differences between the three cities. The steepest price rise in April, 0.9 per cent, was in Beira. In Maputo, the rise inflation in the month was 0.63 per cent, and in Nampula it was 0.17 per cent.Taking the entire January to April period, Maputo experienced inflation of 4.03 per cent, while in the other two cities it was less than one per cent (Beira 0.97 per cent, and Nampula 0.78 per cent).

RENAMO LEADER REGISTERS AS VOTER

Afonso Dhlakama, leader of Mozambique’s former rebel movement Renamo, registered as a voter, and was issue with his voter card on Thursday.The spokesperson for the National Elections Commission (CNE), Paulo Cuinica, confirmed to AIM that Dhlakama registered at about 15.40 at a voter registration post in the Vanduzi administrative post, in Gorongosa district.He was processed by one of the final eight registration brigades which deployed to the northern part of rural Gorongosa at midday, after Renamo had guaranteed a suspension of its military activities in Gorongosa and throughout the central province of Sofala.Other Renamo members accompanied Dhlakama and also registered – Cuinica said he was not yet sure how many people had been with the Renamo leader.Renamo will now be able to adopt Dhlakama as its candidate for the presidential election scheduled for 15 October. Only registered voters can stand as presidential candidates.The other two main parties have already selected their candidates – the central committee of the ruling Frelimo Party chose former defence minister Filipe Nyusi, while the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM) chose its leader and Mayor of Beira, Daviz Simango.All three must now collect the documentation they need for their nomination papers, including 10,000 supporting signatures which must all be authenticated by a public notary. The nomination papers must be submitted to the Constitutional Council, the highest body in matters of constitutional and electoral law, by 21 July. - - - - - - - - --------------------------------

Efforts were made to " intercept " Dhlakama at the time that would move the Vundunzi but its safety has assembled a strong safety device Satungira . Not being viable siege of delegation of Renamo , the military requested the Police of the Republic uniform to wear elements of the Rapid Intervention Force and other special forces . For this reason the brigadiers and large team of directors of the National Electoral Commission and the Electoral Administration Technical Secrectariado and how journalists were slow to get to the sites of the census.The delegation consisting of five wera vehicles , one of which carrying the team to link Renamo consists of 5 members including Mr Manuel Lole , the lawyer Arnaldo Tivane and Jussa colonel in reserve. Also followed a police vehicle carrying eight (8 ) elements elite disguised in police uniforms of public policy . The order was to do a suicide bombing , ie evil were face to face with the head of Renamo shoot to kill notwithstanding this act resulted in the death of all members of the police , governmental delegation , journalists , since the security of Dhlakama react . Arrived near Vunduzi / Satungira the delegation is sent to stop by two guerrillas who searched the car and sent proceed. Already in Vunduzi continue to receive guidance , which also shuffled the whole scheme , possibly because they had snipers hidden . The motorcade after crossing the bridge over the river Nhandugue is again sent guerrillas to stop for 4 more inquiries and give travels 25 km towards the town of Chionde , 10 kilometers from Casa Banana . Two hundred meters before moving to where Dhlakama was , everyone was frisked and forced to turn off cell phones and police received strict orders and approached the place and there were planted under fire from guerrillas hidden and not visible . It was planned that the leader of Renamo in recenseasse Chionde , 30 km Satungira . The guards deceived the FDS simulating major concern in protecting the likely site of the census Afonso Dhlakama in Satungira .

MOZAMBIQUE HAS 18,000 MEGAWATTS OF HYDROPOWER POTENTIAL

Mozambique has a hydroelectric potential of 18,000 megawatts, Energy Minister Salvador Namburete told an international conference on “Powering Africa” in Maputo on Thursday.He added that Mozambique has a further 2,430 megawatts available from other renewable resources, 23 billion tonnes of known coal reserves, and over 170 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves. Namburete predicted that the energy mix in Mozambique will evolve to 55 per cent from renewable sources (including hydropower), 25 per cent from coal and 20 per cent from natural gas.“The enormous proven reserves of coal put Mozambique among the largest producers of coal in the world”, he said. 

“Large scale investments are currently under way, including the construction of coal fired power stations”. Three mining companies are well advanced with plans to build power stations at the mouths of their mines in Tete province.A gas fired power station operated by the company Aggreko is already operating at Ressano Garcia on the border with South Africa, and a second station, to be operated by the Mozambican electricity company EDM and the South African petro-chemical giant Sasol, should be concluded later this year.These power stations draw on the gas fields of Pande and Temane, in the southern province of Inhambane. But much vaster gas reserves have been uncovered in the Rovuma Basin, off the shore of the northern province of Cabo Delgado. Although much of this will certainly be exported in the shape of liquefied natural gas (LNG), some of the reserves could be used to fire new power stations catering for increased electricity demand in the north of the country.The existence of these and other resources, Namburete said, showed that Mozambique is well able to meet its national electricity requirements and export a surplus to other member countries of SADC (Southern African Development Community).But exploiting this potential requires private investment in building the electricity generation and transmission facilities, since the enormous sums involved are quite beyond the financial capacities of the Mozambican state. 

NYUSI PROMISES TO CONTINUE THE FRELIMO DREAM

The presidential candidate of Mozambique’s ruling Frelimo Party, former defence minister Filipe Nyusi, declared on Wednesday that he is ready to continue implementing the dream, mission and project of Frelimo, inspired by the four men who have led the party – Eduardo Mondlane, Samora Machel, Joaquim Chissano and the current president, Armando Guebuza.   Speaking at the opening session of a Frelimo National Cadres Meeting (which is an advisory body), in the southern city of Matola, Nyusi said he is relying on the support of all party cadres, since all are important in continuing and consolidating gains and victories for the well-being of the people.  Nyusi added that “cohesion and inclusion begin when we accept that all of us can and should contribute without distrust in the spirit of Unity-Criticism-Unity, and that the cadres of Frelimo, who know their local realities, will at this meeting shape the cornerstones of the project for governance over the next five years”.   About 3,000 Frelimo cadres are attending this meeting. It will analyse the 2009 general elections, and to what extent the Frelimo manifesto for those elections has been implemented. It will also draw up the general lines on which the manifesto for the presidential and parliamentary elections of this year will be drafted, and will contribute to the directives on how Frelimo parliamentary candidates should be selected. 

“For our common project to be successful, we must have greater tolerance and trust among party militants”, said Nyusi. 

He announced that he has already begun a long march across the country in order to listen to Frelimo members and supporter. This had begun in Nwajahane, the birthplace in Gaza province of Frelimo’s founder and first president, Eduardo Mondlane.He had moved on to Chilembene, where Samora Machel, the man who led Frelimo to victory over Portuguese colonialism, and became the country’s first president was born. There he had met with the Machel family and with the local population.Courage and determination were characteristics of Chilembene, he said, “and we consider it a source of human energy with which we intend to comply with the mission of the Frelimo Party to defend our independence and territorial integrity”.Nyusi had then visited Malehice, the home village of Machel’s successor, Joaquim Chissano, where he had found “love for the motherland and the people”. He next intends to visit Guebuza’s birthplace in Murrupula district, in the northern province of Nampula.“The march is long, but I have faith and hope that, by carrying the message of truth, justice, continuity and confidence in change, together we shall score successes”, he declared. “Victory is certain because our cause is just”. 

Dhlakama waiting Brigade Census

The eight brigades will be surveyed the 16,000 people living in regions of conflict in Gorongosa, including Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama already sailed towards Vunduze where they will work. This did not happen in the early morning hours, as planned, because the last time the government proposed the integration of the military brigade. The proposal was not accepted. The Government's proposal created a mistrust that still remains however because it is believed to be in the brigade agents FADM and FIR with police uniforms protective environment. The brigades have departed and are expected today, the leader of Renamo recenseie. (Canalmoz)

NEWS!!!

A group of miscreants murdered in a public thoroughfare, this morning the judge of criminal seccção Judicial Court of the city of Maputo, Dinis Nhavotso Silica. 

Evildoers followed the Judge that the traffic light is at the intersection of avenues Karl Marx and Marien Ngouabi, close to primary school September 7, in the city of Maputo. Individuals still lot of bullets riddled the car of the judge, an executive of Hyundai gray color, and put themselves on the run. Dinis Silica has been working in recent days in the dossier of the abductions. It is organized crime to return to take account of capital. (CMoz)

ZAMBEZIA AGICULTURAL SECTOR GROWS BY OVER 15 PER CENT

The agricultural sector in the central province of Zambezia has registered an average annual growth of 15.5 per cent over the last eight years. Production has increased from 1.8 million tonnes in 2005 to 5.5 million tonnes in 2013. A source in the provincial government told this growth was influenced by the construction of the Thewe II irrigation scheme in Mopeia district which has the capacity to irrigate 227 hectares, and the introduction of new agricultural implements. In addition, five silos have been built in the districts of Alto Molocue and Gurue with the capacity to store five thousand tonnes of grain.During the period seven district capitals were linked to the electricity grid. This means that all the 17 district capitals (including the provincial capital Quelimane) now have access to electricity. The source added that “solar panels now provide electricity to 61 schools and 68 health units”.Other positive developments include the construction of four petrol stations and the expansion of the mobile phone network which now covers all the district capitals, 28 administrative posts and 69 localities. The road between Mocuba and Alto Benfica has been repaired over an 86 kilometre stretch and bridges have been built over the Zambezi and Lugela rivers.A water distribution centre has been built for Quelimane at a cost of 63.3 million meticais (about 2.1 million US dollars) and the city has had improvements made to its drainage system. Public buildings and the central hospital in the provincial capital have also been rehabilitated.The province has seen a large growth in the education sector. This has included the expansion of five higher education institutes. In the health sector, the ratio of inhabitants per doctor has decreased from 60,828 in 2005 to 39,000 in 2013.

SYRAH RESOURCES SIGNS MOU WITH ASMET

The Australian based mining company Syrah Resources has announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with British company Asmet for an offtake agreement to supply between 100,000 and 150,000 tonnes of graphite per year from its Balama graphite and vanadium project in the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado.This is in addition to the MOU that Syrah has signed with the China Aluminum International Engineering Corporation (Chalieco) covering between 80,000 and 100,000 tonnes of graphite per annum.Syrah will now provide Asmet with between two and three tonnes of sample graphite. If the sample meets expectations, a formal offtake agreement will be adopted whereby Asmet will buy up to 150,000 tonnes per year at a price of a thousand US dollars a tonne over a five year period.Asmet intends to use the Balama graphite in foundry applications and high quality steel production. According to Syrah, “Balama graphite is considered ideal for use as a recarburiser as it contains low harmful impurities”.Syrah states that high quality recarburiser sells for between 1,200 and 1,500 dollars a tonne. It therefore believes that it is highly competitive at a price of 1,000 dollars.In another development, the local government in Chinese province of Heliongjiang has announced plans to close polluting graphite mines. The province accounts for 45 per cent of Chinese production and 29 per cent of global output. As a result, Syrah has been approached by several China based companies. However, it states that its preferred option is to distribute its graphite in China through Chalieco.In addition, the company states that it is in advanced discussions with a large European graphite trader and it expects to make a further announcement in June.In December last year the company stated that it was confident that the mine can be developed for less than a hundred million dollars. There is a world-class deposit of graphite at Balama, along with vanadium. According to Syrah, Balama contains far more graphite that the known reserves in the rest of the world.Graphite is a form of carbon that is highly valued due to its properties as a conductor of electricity. It is used in batteries and fuel cells and is the basis for the “miracle material” graphene, which is the strongest material ever measured, with vast potential for use in the electronics industries.

Renamo continues to drag tactical

Dialogue between the Mozambican government and the former rebel movement Renamo has once again hit an impasse. This time is was due to disagreements over the terms of reference of the foreign observers who will be invited to monitor the cessation of hostilities.  There have been regular clashes in the centre of the country between armed Renamo groups and the government’s defence and security forces. But on Saturday Renamo groups attacked civilian vehicles travelling along the country’s main north-south highway between the Save River and the town of Muxungue in the central province of Sofala. These were the first attacks on civilian traffic along the road in about four months.   The introduction of foreign observers during a cessation of hostilities was a demand made by Renamo in March. This was accepted by the government in an attempt to keep the dialogue alive. At the time the head of the government delegation to the dialogue, Agriculture Minister Jose Pacheco, told reporters “if this brings comfort to Renamo, the government is open to the presence of international observers”.    The head of the Renamo delegation, parliamentary deputy Saimone Macuiana, stated that “our purpose when we came here was to wind up this topic. But it seems as if the government has more important agendas than working to ensure peace and security”.   Pacheco argued that the proposed role for the foreign observers came from the Mozambican observers to the dialogue (who began assisting in the dialogue following a demand from Renamo).   According to Pacheco, the proposal covered three aspects: the cessation of attacks by Renamo; the demilitarisation of Renamo and the integration of its fighters into Mozambique’s armed forces and police; and the economic and social reintegration of Renamo fighters into society.  However, Pacheco complained that once again Renamo raised its demand for “parity” in the armed forces and the police. He added that Renamo also stuck by its latest demand that it will only deliver its weapons to what it calls a credible body.  The government has made several major concessions during the dialogue sessions, including the introduction of national observers, changes to the electoral bodies and extending the period for voter registration. Presidential, parliamentary and provincial elections are due to be held on 15 October. Pacheco pointed out that “in the past elections were held despite threats that the country would burn. It is our expectation that we will hold elections this year”.