Sunday, September 27, 2015

We are a stable country

The President of the Republic, Filipe Nyusi, noted in the US city of New York, the existence of instability focuses on Mozambique, but assured that the country is stable."Politically the country is stable, despite threats of outbreaks, and it is destabilizing and violent a little economic development," said the Head of State, speaking at a meeting held Saturday with the resident Mozambican community in the United States of America (USA) and Canada.Nyusi alluded to incidents in the past two weeks, the central province of Manica, the last one on Friday and that led to the deaths of at least 20 people, according to the latest news advanced by Radio Mozambique (RM), the national public broadcaster.Of this number, 19 are armed men guard Afonso Dhlakama, leader of Renamo, the main opposition party in Mozambique, which insists on illegally maintaining an armed wing.  The clashes, according to the source, occurred shortly after the Renamo men have shot dead a motorist of a semicolectivo carriage of passengers by Amatongas in Gondola district. Six other people who were in semicolectivo were injured, including a child.The Guebuza said that outbreaks of instability are due to the fact that there are some people who still have doubts about the transparency of the last elections, in spite of having been considered free and fair by the international community, including African organizations, US, European and Mozambican who participated and observed the election.The political parties themselves and journalists have also observed the electoral process, without any hindrance, from beginning to end.So Nyusi said, "the ultimate weapon is dialogue. We are engaged in dialogue ... we have to create more trust between us, "he said, adding that" we expect at any time exceed this episode. "
"The greatest enemy that Mozambique is poverty," he said.The President also addressed the current economic situation in the country, and said he believed that Mozambique could register a growth in the order of seven percent, the similarity of recent years.This extender in perspective remains despite the rains that occurred earlier this year and caused considerable damage in many infrastructures, particularly in Mocuba, in the central province of Zambezia.Another equally important factor is the drop in raw material prices in the international market, such as coal, exacerbated by the strong growth of some economies.Nyusi presented the five-year program of the Government that was based on auscultation of the problems facing the Mozambican population.Enrolled him successes achieved by Mozambique in recent years and who were integrated into the Millennium Development Goals (ODM's), such as gender parity in primary education, universal access to education and infant mortality.In turn, the president of the Mozambican community resident in the United States, Olavio Langa, announced that it held since July 2014 a campaign for the collection of basic school supplies to help disadvantaged children in Mozambique."We call on Your Excellency help to exercise flexibility for the routing of this material for Mozambique", he said.
The community took the opportunity to present their concerns, such as difficulties in obtaining identity cards and biometric passports, abolition of entry visas to children under Mozambican parents, qualification of the Americas as constituency facilitation of citizens on their return the parents, particularly when transporting their goods, and clarification from the government on dual nationality.Minutes before the end of the dinner, it was interesting and gratifying to see the President personally move from table to table, interacting with all present to hear their concerns and suggestions.On Saturday morning, Nyusi held several meetings, including with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-Noon, his counterpart in Vietnam, Troung Tan Sang, among others.


Dhlakama survives two attacks

The leader of Renamo, the main opposition party in Mozambique, Afonso Dhlakama, said he escaped yesterday (26) and the second time, unharmed a new attack in Manica province. This is the second attack taking place in central Mozambique in just two weeks.The attack took place late this morning on Highway which connects in Chimoio and Beira in the Gondola district, when the party Renamo continued to Nampula, described the president of the largest opposition party.Afonso Dhlakama said that three guards were injured Renamo, but after the reporting of the journalist the Portuguese news agency Lusa, who traveled to the site, the attack will have made at least nine deaths, including two men in uniforms Renamo.This attack comes at a time that are still ongoing investigations the attack last September 12 on which, yesterday, the defense minister, Salvador Mtumuke, spoke denying any involvement of the Mozambican army in the attack.
The spokesman for Renamo, Antonio Muchanga, describes what happened "to my knowledge through an anonymous source saying that President Dhlakama had just been attacked in Gondola district as he left Manica towards Beira, on National Road 4 . The source could not say anything. I tried to call my colleagues who walk with the President and there was confirmation that, indeed, there was an attack. "
"There are injured but do not know estimate in what circumstances people were injured because there was also persecution. I have information that the leader has not been achieved and is physically well but morally uncomfortable. The conclusion we come to is that there is no peace on the agenda of Mr. Filipe Jacinto Nyusi. "said a spokesman for Renamo.
População incendeia viaturas de DhlakamaBut the spokesman of Frelimo, Damian Joseph, denies that the attack was perpetrated by the army and back to talking about simulation as during the September 12 attack; "the truth is that was passing the entourage of Mr. Dhlakama. When they pass some vehicles this entourage arrived others of the same delegation that stopped if they put him in the bush and started shooting. That is the information we're getting from witnesses on site. "The attack took place late this morning, Friday 25th September, describes the spokesman Frelimo, in power, "the next area of ​​the city of Chimoio. The be some attack would be unthinkable star in an attack, an attack Mr. Dhlakama in an area like that. ""It seems, until proven otherwise, which is more an act of Renamo with the same intention last time We need to have a few more elements;. Is that at that time became a bus carrying some people and probably could have been some victims "also said Damian Joseph.


Thursday, September 24, 2015

"Liberalization of the economy ended our industry"

A key player in the economic trajectory of the country, Eneas Comiche retreats in the past and explains how liberalization has destroyed the industrial base. He also speaks of Ematum and shows the way for the future.Eneas Comiche is one of the few licensed Mozambican before national independence, having been formed in economics in 1969.

What was your contribution to Mozambique postcolonial? put their knowledge at the service of independence? It's hard to sum up in so few words, for when they gave independence of Mozambique, I was in the Credit Institute of Mozambique, as an administrator, and soon after as president. The Credit Institute of Mozambique came to turn up in December 1977 in People's Development Bank (BPD), at the time we did the restructuring of the banking system. So it was more immediate action so that the Mozambican people feel comfortable with the bank.

What was the practical contribution after training, ie put knowledge at the service of national independence? Absolutely. That's why I came back to put all the wealth of knowledge acquired to serve the people, is that this was the decision.

He participated in the negotiations between Frelimo and the Portuguese government, the economic and financial field. What was really their contribution in these negotiations? It was part of the delegation of Frelimo in late 1974 and early 1975, and was an excellent contribution. I remember that was part of a committee that was concerned with financial matters. Basically, we worked to negotiate the restructuring of banks, with the aim to implement what had been agreed in Lusaka, which was to transform the National Bank of the Overseas Department in Central Bank. This whole negotiation process encompassed economic aspects and culminated in April 1975, before the proclamation of independence, with the signing of several assurance protocols. Among these protocols, the HCB is, scientific protocols, friendship and cooperation, among others.
Resultado de imagem para eneas comiche 
It was the passage of these institutions for the management of Mozambique's ...
They can not say they were passages, it was necessary to negotiate and were negotiations that were extremely difficult.

How was it possible to keep the operation of banks in a context of great difficulties?
It was extremely difficult. As you know, the paintings were mainly Portuguese, Mozambicans were very few. What happened was, in late 1974, there was a mass exodus of Portuguese. For example, every Monday, I came to the bank, here on September 25, where today works Barclays Bank, there was the Credit Institute of Mozambique, and I was on the 11th floor and could not find ... no one. Half of my way credit was gone and we had to quickly recruit Mozambicans with 9th class. Then there were no more people with 9th class and we started to recruit people with 8th and 7th grade and we created conditions to make training. It was from there that came the idea of ​​training the Credit Institute. It was what was needed so that the bank did not stop ... and did not stop.

And what was the importance of banking shortly after the proclamation of independence? At that time it was already PCA Moçambique.Foi Credit Institute as important as this. us, though without great command of what it meant to run a bank, we were creating management conditions. From 1975 to 1979 we had fully Mozambican staff. In 1975 it was PCA seat and rode across the country in order to disseminate what is this bank thing. People were afraid to enter the bank, hide money, some buried in cans, others in the trees, others in huts.

Disseminate the concept of savings and lead people to acquire saving habits ...
This was a process, because it was necessary that the population had confidence that he could enter the bank and make the deposit, which was to leave the money in the bank and the money was not going to disappear. It was extremely important moments of the beginning of the banking business. To date of national independence, we had nine banks, but in 1977 the number reduced. The Bank of Mozambique had been created with central bank and commercial bank functions. We had BPD and the Bank Standar Tota.

Between 1975 and 1984, he served on the boards of some companies, representing the Credit Institute of Mozambique and People's Development Bank. I speak of Texlom, Texmanta, Bicycle Factory, Maquinag, Riopele and Texmoque. Helped build, to expand and financially solidify these companies, which later went bankrupt. What were the reasons?
They were profitable companies. The Texlom and Riopele were profitable companies, the Mozambique Bicycles Factory not. When they came to seek financing from the Credit Institute of Mozambique, we did a study. I personally did the study and we set out to fund, and in return said it was necessary to be in management. Two years later, it became a rentável.A Texmoque company is created by textile companies and was the group Textile Africa. The Riopele was built in Marracuene and no one believed in Marracuene could be a textile company, but the workers who were in the building were recruited there. When he began to work, some workers coming from the building had a training and have become good workers têxteis.A Riopele producing and exporting, because did not use domestic raw material, did not use cotton, used acrylic fibers and had the Mozambique market and the exterior. The Texmanta was created by the set of textiles in order to make use of waste. The idea was to manufacture blankets and location in Pemba was no accident. It was a political decision, it was not the best location. The best would be close to textile factories where there was this waste and it was known that, in Cabo Delgado, there was no factory. So the decision was made, I was the president Samora. When it amounted to Texmanta, it was necessary to identify a location near the airport, but the area was intensely inhabited. It was necessary to speak with the authorities for the resettlement of populations. That's where the neighborhood was renamed-Texmanta and there was build the factory.

In the particular case of this plant, the failure to build near the source of raw material can be the source of failure? This is why not led to the bankruptcy. The company was good, despite all the difficulties that existed at the beginning, in terms of work. First, we had to find a source of water because the plant would consume a lot of water, as well as the city. We found a source of water and came to the conclusion that it would be enough. It was channeled and used during construction and throughout the factory production process. All textile mills begin to have difficulties in the context of the liberalization process, which takes place after our accession to the Bretton Woods institutions. Produce and have to sell in the market is one thing. Compete with products from China and India is another. And then our textile industry started to have difficulties to compete.

But not only the textile, other failed industries, speak of Maquinag, Metalworking ...
True, but in another context. All this openness to the market economy has brought some difficulties so that our industry could position itself well in the market. It is true that the war situation also featured.

What was the economic and social impact of bankruptcies?
First, I must say that these industries were business cards in the country. President Samora Machel when the received their counterparts, were going to visit the Texlom, Riopele the Maquinag ... In the visits I attended, the president Samora knew the workers to their names. The point that arises is that when we went ahead to liberalization, with the entry of used products, this ended our industry. Because the same products already existed in the market at cheap price, given the occurrence. The clothing bales used were the factor of strong competition for the textile industry. So on the one hand, there is competition and we could not compete with markets like Indian and Chinese. Also the policy that was adopted at the time was not favorable for our industry to position itself well in the market. Indeed, there were workers who lost their jobs and many affected families, but had to face the challenge, to move towards believe in the great potential of our industry, taking advantage of local raw materials.

What today inhibits the revival of these industries?
I think that nothing inhibits. We have to actually make a big bet. I suppose the Five-Year Government Programme 2015 to 2019 shows the way in this regard. We have to take the raw material we have, particularly in the textile, cotton, and invest. I suppose we can make strides. Today, we have more specialized Mozambican staff and are prepared to face major challenges.

Resultado de imagem para eneas comicheAs deputy finance minister from 1974 to 1986, he headed the first technical talks with the IMF and World Bank, where the Union's financing of Soviet Socialist Republics and East countries had decreased and the Nordic countries conditioned the continuity of funding to accession to the institutions of Bretton Woods. As the negotiation and constraints Mozambique refused? I remember the first meeting with the IMF and World Bank, where we were very scared, because at the entrance, we have witnessed demonstrations in which they staged a funeral procession with the coffin of the IMF and think, what we stuck? In 1984, we had begun to negotiate the debt with the so-called Paris Club. We tried to negotiate with commercial banks relating to bank debt, but it was not possible. As a condition to take the first tranche of the IMF and it went through being members of the Bretton Woods institutions. We had to pay the first tranche and was extremely difficult because we have our Mozambican pride, we know what we want and where we want to go. Of the first meetings we had with the IMF, still remember the head of the FIM delegation, an Egyptian master. As an African, it should be more understanding with African countries, but said "we, the IMF, we think the same way and all is well." After all, we can negotiate and have support to move forward in negotiations on the official debt and also the commercial debt.

He said the negotiation process was difficult. I speak for the fact that the World Bank had promised to pay a value between 100 and 150 million dollars for the first operation and then review the value to 45 million. We came also to add constraints that were impositions of economic policy. How did they react to all this and as Mozambique managed to get around? It was necessary to redouble our negotiating capacity and were gaining some experience. At times, the decisions were all later in the day and even at night, after the other party is tired, and that was where the memorandums of understanding were signed. Despite all this, it was possible to get right step. I remember the social reorganization program. there was a social component, was only the economic component. It took President Samora Machel himself contributed to this shift.

One of the evidences arm railways between the government and the IMF are in the following positions. The IMF argued that, being serious the disease, the prescription should be right, but Mozambique defended the idea that the remedy could be so strong that eventually kill the patient. As they came out of this impasse?
In fact, it was possible for us to find a solution to the issues that were raised. The question of valuations was one of the aspects that shocked us because it was necessary to make very sharp devaluations in the period immediately after the Economic and Social Rehabilitation Programme, in particular 1987-1988, then 1989-1990 lighter, and more afternoon there was a certain unification of the exchange rates of the official and parallel markets. I believe that these institutions were understanding as time went on. Because it's just not a country that can gain positions, but with a group of them. It is true that it was the level of governors of African banks that defended positions. Even in the African Union summit it was placed this question, especially when it came to debt.

What were the consequences of the accession to the Bretton Woods institutions? Today, 30 years later, what criticism and praise that makes the intervention of the IMF and World Bank in Mozambique? Today, I will say that the relationship is completely different, both in the IMF and the World Bank, and some leaders who were already here have come up with some opening for dialogue.

As Deputy Minister of Finance, he participated in the first negotiations of Mozambique's foreign debt. As governor of the Bank of Mozambique, headed delegations that negotiated the rescheduling of external debt with the Paris Club and the London Club. Today, the country has regressed and public debt is almost red (over 40% of GDP). How is your sustainability? The thing that I like putado, heading the Commission Budget Plan, and I've been very careful, indicate that at present, the Mozambican public debt is sustainable.

Mozambique has been recognized as a country exemplary in meeting debt service (since 1987). Given that the state will renegotiate debt Ematum, the financial rating agency Standard & Poor's cut the rating of Mozambique. We risk not honor the debt service? I think not. We will not regress nor should we allow that to happen. It is speculated much around the Ematum. True, it is a subject that deserves careful handling. This issue when it came to Parliament, we worked with civil society organizations. It was in our relationship between the Commission of Planning and Budget and the Budget Monitoring Forum and that this matter has been placed. Of course that also had been alerted by the IMF. On the face of it, we made the correction in the State Budget for 2014. The proposed budget law did not have enough information and adequate treatment of this issue of debt Ematum. We had to correct, to 350 million US dollars be one component to defense. This year alone we learned that, after all, there is another type of equipment that had not been considered and that are not 350 million but 850 million dollars, which means that 350 million dollars are allocated to the company Ematum and $ 500 million to defense. This aspect deserves a necessary treatment in the General State Accounts 2014 the account has been received and we are following the normal manner. The Administrative Court has a term until 30 November to make the preparation of the whole process. Once the Administrative Court acts as external auditor, to November 30, when we receive the report with its opinion, it will indeed be vigilant.

As Finance Minister (1991-1994), contributed to a greater rationality in public expenditure, particularly in reducing defense spending. You look at the evolution of spending in the country, particularly in the defense sector? I think we should pay more attention to issues related to defense and national security. We have capacity in terms of State resources for this purpose. So I have to look at public expenditure component with the issue of public revenue. Because the recipe has performed well, but we have to find ways to maximize state revenue, so that our security forces work better, so we can pay better wages and we can do better defense of our coast. So we have to look carefully for the issue of sovereignty, it is no coincidence that in the Government's 2015-2019 Five-Year Plan there is the pillar of the consolidation of national unity, peace and sovereignty.

How a country can invest in the defense without compromising agreements with donors?
What is required is that there are resources and we know how to manage and make better rationalize spending. So we have to create debt capacity, so we can invest where it is needed and where it is a priority.

Resultado de imagem para eneas comicheEneas Comiche headed the delegation of the Government in the Economic and Social Commission Reintegration of demobilized under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. However, the stalemate continues on the reintegration. What went wrong in this process? With the reintegration commission, did not fail anything. Was fulfilled because it was in fact the reintegration of demobilized soldiers and also those who were displaced, refugees in neighboring countries. Those outside returned, had all the support and were each for their province or district of origin or even to places of your choice. They had kits to resume their activities. This reintegration commission worked well, it has achieved its objectives and has nothing to do with what one can speak today with regard to those who continue with weapons without the hand and are not fulfilling what was agreed in September last year.

Very quickly, what is the balance that makes 40 years of governance?

Very positive. It is indeed a privilege for any of us to say that we have reached the 40 years of independence Mozambique and see where you are. It should be higher up if not for the 40 years of destabilization war; if not for all the aggression, of war, Iam Smith, apartheid, etc. We are well, we have to put into practice what we dream, and what we dream is translated those who have no role in the government or political parties, but they joined for 2025 agenda because there were representatives of political parties, academics, religious, students, etc., who designed the agenda which was revised in 2013.

Frelimo First Secretary Evade Kidnapping on Dhlakama's Orders

The leader of Renamo, Afonso Dhalkamma has ordered Thursday the abduction of the State Administrator of Tambara, as well as that of the head of police operations and the Frelimo First Secretary there, reads a report published in Rádio Moçambique today, adding that the fact was confirmed by the administrator himself.The administrator Mauricio Macharubo evaded the attempted kidnapping by fleeing his usual workplace after being warned by the population – as did the head of operations at the district police headquarters."The group sent to capture the administrator and the chief of operations came down to the command while another group went to the administrator’s office. There, they found my assistant and asked: Where is the administrator? My colleague responded: The administrator is doing his program, outside the village. Then they left, and went to the (Frelimo party) Secretariat in search of the First Secretary, always asking the same question: Where is your administrator? I had instructed the members of the district government to leave the offices and that no one should go to the house," the Tambara administrator pointed out, sketching "the contours of the order to abduct him, as well as the head of police operations and the Frelimo First Secretary, an order issued by the Renamo leader, in that district. (RM Manica)".

Interior Minister Concerned Over Evidence Found On Dhlakama Ambush

The Interior Minister of Mozambique Jaime Basilio Monteiro, reaffirmed yesterday that the police is concerned with the attack suffered by the leader of Renamo, Afonso Dhlakama, on the September 12.According to Monteiro "some bullets and bullets' casings have been found" and they "are owned by Afonso Dhlakama’s guards," according to his statements quoted by Folha de Maputo.Inquiries on the subject are being held since yesterday, on site, and may bring forward more details of what happened. The evidence collected will be used to solve the case.

Minister Takes the Lead in Clean Up Mafalala Operation

The streets, alleys and drainage ditches of Mafalala have a new face after benefitting from all the activity of Clean Up the World Day, celebrated worldwide.In Mozambique, the event was held under the motto "Lixo no Chão, Não!’ (No to Garbage on the floor). The day’s work was attended by Celso Correia, Minister of Land, Environment and Rural Development.Despite the low temperatures felt in Maputo at the early hours of Saturday, the movement of people was intense, both due to the publicity made over the days leading up to the action and to the announcements made on site with the help of loudspeakers.Indeed, the residents took it to cleaning the neighbourhood and disposing solid waste in appropriate locations, wearing t-shirts saying: "No to garbage in drainage ditches" and wielding shovels, rakes and wheelbarrows, Hundreds of people, from Mafalala neighbourhood and elsewhere, joined people from the Ministry of Land, Environment and Rural Development, Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM), National Service for Public Safety (SENSAP) and Red Cross, using Eco Life trucks to jointly clean up the drainage ditches of the streets of Goa, Eduardo Viegas, 3.026 and Eusébio da Silva Ferreira among other activities.
clubofmozambiqueAccording to Celso Correia, Minister of Land, Environment and Rural Development, the choice of Mafalala neighbourhood, was due to the fact that it is a historic place and to the fact that it presents itself as a place with a remarkable tourist potential."We believe that, more than cleaning up the neighbourhood, we are bringing hope to the residents of this residential area, to show that you can live in a clean society. And the initiative also demonstrates that keeping our neighbourhood clean begins in each of us, ensuring that our house is clean ", he appealed.Later, the Ministry of Land, Environment and Rural Development mentioned that the government, in a gradual way, wants to replace plastic bags with other healthier alternatives to the environment. Still, "we are aware that it is a process that will take a long time. But we have introduced measures aimed at reducing a plastic bag type that is harmful to health and now we are unleashing initiatives to stimulate the private sector to bring in new solutions."In turn, Manuel Mussana, chief of Mafalala’s Block 50 and of the cleaning at the cell level, said on Sunday that the mobilization of residents was made a week earlier. As a result of this action, he hopes to "stop the garbage in the drainage, because it hinders the flow of rainwater, which results in the breeding of mosquitoes, a threat to public health.The event was attended by the Ambassador of Switzerland Irina Schoulgin Nyonique who at the time praised the initiative and expressed hope that more such actions are carried out in different locations.

Renamo informs Mozambican president

Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama says that, despite the recent attempt on his life, he will not abandon his search for peace, democracy and development in Mozambique, and has therefore decided to accept the invitation to talks with the Mozambican head of state. The head of the largest opposition party in the country said at a press conference in Manica province, central Mozambique, that he had already verbally sent the agenda points he wished to discuss with the president.He added that these topics were conveyed to the president by former head of state Joaquim Chissano, who he talked to at the celebrations of the 20th anniversary of the Catholic University of Mozambique in Beira last week."I told Chissano to tell the president I am willing to talk as long as there is a concrete agenda that creates governmental rotation in the country, and not just to shake his hand for him to convince the international community that there is stability in the country, when in reality there isn’t. But the thing is evolving quite a lot and I believe that soon we can announce something," Dhlakama said.The announcement of the meeting between President Nyusi and the Renamo leader occurs at a time when clashes between the main opposition party and government forces were being reported.Speaking to DW Africa, Frelimo spokesman and provincial head of Mobilization and Propaganda in Manica, António Mainato, said that, given that the peace is not personal but belongs to 24 million Mozambicans, the dialogue between the two parties should not be imposed."Renamo needs to show it is committed to peace in the country, putting concrete actions into practice," concluded Mainato.At his recent rallies, the Renamo leader gave positive assessments of his party’s political activities, wiche have as their main focus the announcement of new governments in the provinces where it considers itself to have had a majority in the last multi-party elections.Dhlakama and Nyusi met twice in early 2015 to discuss the political crisis in Mozambique emerging from Renamo’s refusal to recognize the results of the October 2014 general election. Since then, Dhlakama has demanded governance in the provinces where he says Renamo won the elections, threatening otherwise to seize power there by force.

Indian businessman murdered in Chimoio

clubofmozambiqueAn Indian businessman was murdered in Chimoio on September 18, Manica central province, with police shooting dead one of the alleged assailants and arresting a guard at the victim’s residence.According to the Police of the Republic of Mozambique in Manica, four unidentified individuals had broken into the residence of the businessman, killed him and stolen his belongings when the police happened upon them attempting another burglary. "We came across the individuals attempting another robbery in the Cinco neighbourhood in the early hours of Thursday September 18. Noticing our presence, they tried to make off with the stolen goods. When the police gave chase, they fired shots and the police responded, killing of one of the criminals," the PRM spokesman in Manica related.Police detained a young man who worked as a guard at the victim’s residence for questioning in relation to the incident, but TV Miramar quoted him as denying having anything to do with the case, and saying that at the time of the assault, he was absent from the residence at his employer’s request.Manica police are still searching for the three criminals still at large, claiming that they would be captured very soon and held accountable for the crime they committed. 

Chissano Comes Out in Defence of Albinos

Resultado de imagem para joaquim chissanoFormer Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano on Wednesday called for a major effort to educate society about albinism in order to stamp out the kidnapping and murder of albinos.Crimes against albinos have mostly occurred in the northern province of Nampula, where at least eight albinos have been kidnapped. Superstitious claims, apparently imported from Tanzania, are made that albino body parts possess magical powers. Speaking to reporters outside a conference on access to justice, organized by the National Legal Aid Institute (IPAJ), Chissano described discrimination against and persecution of albinos as “an aberration”, which could be eradicated through education.“It makes no sense to persecute albinos because of small differences in the characteristics of their skins or their eyes”, he declared. “We are all different. We have different skins, different eyes, different hair. Why persecute the albinos. The albinos are just as intelligent as anybody else”.There should instead be a social movement to support the albinos, he added, because some of them are very poor and do not have the means to acquire te material needed to protect them from the sun, and allow them a better life. Albinos were just as useful to society as other Mozambicans, Chissano stressed. “Isn’t it good to hear Ali Faque singing beautifully? Isn’t it good to have a pastor like Jamisse Taimo?” he asked, citing the names of the two best known Mozambican albinosSpeaking at the opening of the conference, Deputy Justice Minister Joaquim Verissimo said the government is worried by the kidnapping of albinos, and has set up a multi-sector commission, coordinated by his ministry, to look into the matter.“This commission is drawing up a plan of action in order to come up with additional measures that can mitigate the phenomenon, with rigour, seriousness and speed in dealing with cases”, he said.Verissimo urged all segments of society to denounce to the authorities any suspected cases of kidnapping.Protecting albino citizens was a major challenge, he admitted, but he was optimistic that “we shall be successful”. 

Preparing for Paris Climate Change Conference


Mozambique’s Minister of Land, Environment and Rural Development, Celso Correia, said on Thursday that, at the forthcoming international conference on climate change to be held in Paris, he expected to hear what further contributions the countries that make the largest contributions to climate change are prepared to make.Speaking at the final forum in Maputo prior to the conference, bringing together government stall, academics and civil society representatives, Correia pointed out that Mozambique is one of the countries which “cause the least pollution”.
Yet although Mozambique made little contribution to greenhouse gases, it was highly exposed to the damaging effects of climate change.The expectation, not only of Mozambique, but of the African continent, Correia said, was to see in Paris what contribution would be made “by the countries which cause the most pollution”. On that would depend whether a firm agreement could be reached on climate change.Correia was sure that the storms and floods which had devastated parts of northern and central Mozambique at the start of this year were linked to climate change. Development plans for Mozambique, he stressed, “must take into account the impact of these disasters which have become cyclical. And we don’t know the scale of the ones that will come tomorrow”.“It is with this sense of responsibility that Mozambique will make its contribution”, said the Minister, “in the spirit in which the government has developed its action, with the involvement of all of civil society in this challenge we have ahead of us”.In the coming period, he added, the government hoped that an adaptation capacity would be created among rural communities to face the future impacts of climate change.The Paris Conference is the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties (hence the term COP21) to the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the 11th session of the Meeting of the parties to the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.The ambitious objective of the conference is to achieve a universal, legally binding agreement on climate change to which all nations will sign up.

'A Billion Tourists, A Billion Opportunities’


Resultado de imagem para turismo moçambiqueTourism Week kicks off today in Maputo and promises a plethora of activities including lectures, dancing, physical displays, exhibitions and visits to historical sites.This year’s theme is ‘A Billion Tourists, A Billion Opportunities’, which, according to National Deputy Director of Tourism, Dina Ribeiro, aims to awaken communities and other stakeholders to the many income generation opportunities the sector provides.The main Tourism Week celebrations will take place in Maputo, but parallel activities are scheduled in other provinces. The celebrations include a roadmap of Maputo city’s legendary Mafalala neighbourhood, in the hope of promoting it as a tourist destination."We want the city of Maputo to be a tourist destination, and Mafalala to be thought of as an attraction for both domestic and international tourists," said Ribeiro.The Tourism Week launch ceremony will be held in Mafalala and led by Minister of Culture and Tourism, Silva Dunduro.Day Two activities include lectures in the Noroeste 1 and Josina Machel secondary schools, as well as a tour of central Maputo. Day Three lectures will take place in Lhanguene and Francisco Manyanga secondary schools, with Day Four moving to Eduardo Mondlane and Laulane schools, with a sightseeing tour of Mafalala scheduled for Primary School Unidade 23.
On September 27, a crafts, food and flowers fair is planned in Maputo, with an opening ceremony directed by Prime Minister Carlos Agostinho do Rosário.Mozambique’s Tourism Week culminates with World Tourism Day on September 27, a celebration instituted by the World Tourism Organization in 1979. Mozambique saw a reduction in tourist numbers in 2014, according to the national Deputy Director of Tourism. External factors such as the global economic crisis, along with the current domestic political and military unrest, are thought to be behind the decline.

Helps Mozambique Develop Disaster Contingency Plans


In coordination with Mozambique’s National Institute for Disaster Management (INGC), IOM was facilitating the training of 35 government staff as part of a two-day workshop to develop a contingency plan for the upcoming rainy season (December-March).Training participants included members of the Technical Council for Disaster Risk Management (CTGC) and INGC focal points from each of Mozambique’s eleven provinces, whose involvement is part of IOM’s wider capacity-building project supported by the Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA). 
“Participants are given a practical guide to interpreting long-term weather forecasts, mapping risks, and building a set of potential emergency scenarios. Using these, we can develop action plans which factor in requirements for funding and resources,” said IOM Project Officer Joczabet Guerrero.The government delegates are expected to pass forward these skills upon return to their respective provinces, and then begin to develop provincial and district-level contingency plans. A national plan will follow the consolidation of this work.Trainings focused on the predicted weather patterns for the next six months. Directors from the National Emergency Operations Centre (CENOE), the National Water Department (DNA), and the National Meteorological Institute (INAM) presented research from the South Africa.Regional Climate Outlook Forum – released Friday – highlights the potential upcoming weather risks across the country.The two-day workshop was also attended by other members of the UN Humanitarian Country Team like UNICEF, UN Habitat and the World Health Organization.

People that served their time remain incarcerated


Mozambique’s ombudsman, Jose Abudo told reporters on Tuesday that he is appalled by what he found during a visit to prisons in the northern city of Nampula.Abudo, who is on a working visit to Nampula province, toured the cells in the city’s first police precinct, and the Nampula provincial penitentiary. He talked with the prisoners, and was dismayed by what they told him.
Resultado de imagem para jose abudoFor not only are the prisons overcrowded, but some of the prisoners have served their sentences but have not been released – which clearly only worsens the overcrowding problem.Cited by the independent television station STV, Abudo said it was “incomprehensible” that people who had served their time were still incarcerated. He believed these abuses were happening on a significant scale. Abudo was told that in these cases the release papers had not yet been issued, but he brushed this aside as a tawdry excuse and insisted that prisoners who have served their sentences “should not remain in jail for another minute”.It made no sense to keep people who should have been freed behind bars, and at the same time complain that the prisons are overcrowded.The ombudsman does not have the power to order the immediate release of prisoners, nut he promised that he would intervene on their behalf, and make recommendations to the relevant institutions.

Venice Biennale 2015

clubofmozambiqueLaunched in 1895 to celebrate the marriage of Italy’s King Umberto and Queen Margherita of Savoy, the 56th edition of the Venice Biennale is considered by many as the best in modern memory. Much credit goes to Paolo Baratta, the Biennale’s patrician president and his board, for having had the conviction to name the Nigerian-born Okwui Enwezor for the hugely coveted curator slot. The chemistry of mutual respect and admiration palpable between the two has formed the basis for a spectacular biennale this year.When Enwezor, who is the director of Munich’s Haus der Kunst, announced the biennale’s theme of All the World’s Futures and with the proviso that the essence should be “a parliament of forms” to look into the “current disquiet of our times,” he ruffled more than a few feathers. It was “highfalutin and pretentious” — and horrors of horrors, Karl Marx’s Das Kapital would be read in marathon at the Central Arena as a performance art!Nonetheless, the 136 artists from 56 countries lucky to be anointed with a space in the Giardini or Arsenale venues responded with gusto. So did organisers of the 44 semi-official “collateral events” of galleries, foundations and governments that showcase in palazzos, hotels, churches, convents and monasteries. Equally, most of the national pavilions rose to the occasion, helping Enwezor orchestrate “a multi-part chorus which rings out as the most cohesive, authoritative, arresting, urgent biennale for decades” — Jackie Wullschlager of the Financial Times, put it. Seven of the national pavilions are African, the highest number ever: Angola, Egypt, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Eighty-eight of the 136 artists are appearing for the first time — it’s never has been like this before.

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Barclays cites Mozambique as one of Africa’s five "sleeping giants"


clubofmozambiqueA Barclays bank economic analysis unit has identified Mozambique as one of the continent’s five "sleeping giants", and also adds Angola to a group of fifteen African countries it praises for their opportunities and openness to business."Barclays Africa Trade Index, which measures the opportunities and the openness to trade in 31 sub-Saharan economies, identifies a group of "sleeping giants" who, after having gone through a significant phase of economic turmoil, are catching up and registering fast growth," reads the research note distributed to British investors.
The five are Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Ghana and Tanzania, economies which the report says will see continuing economic development and an increase in private consumption in the coming years.With a total population of about 270 million people and an average annual growth of 7.3 percent in the last five years, "these five countries represent a significant business opportunity for British exporters in the coming years," the report said."By 2020, these five countries will represent a population of about 325 million people, comparable to the United States’ population, and with economic growth rates than were previously exclusive to India and China," said the director of the corporate banking business of Barclays, John Winter.
"Based on recent estimates, the expenditure of households in these countries should almost double, reaching over a thousand dollars per year in 2020; brands that start to settle in now will be well positioned for a rapid growth in 2020," he adds .In an index that registers unsatisfied demand with the rapid expansion of value chains and the opening of markets and reflects the absence of barriers to international trade, Angola is ranked seventh and Mozambique fifteenth in a list led by South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya.

Chissano,who called Dhlakama as" a necessary momentum. "

Resultado de imagem para joaquim chissanoThe former head of State of Mozambique Joaquim Chissano proved yesterday available to mediate a meeting between the President and the leader of Renamo, calling on political leaders to learn to manage conflict. Pointing out that has no mandate to negotiate with Dhlakama, Chissano showed however that it is ready to contribute to achieving a meeting between the head of state, Filipe Nyusi, and the leader of Renamo (Mozambique National Resistance), Afonso Dhlakama, and considers it important to overcome the current political crisis in Mozambique.
Joaquim and Chissano, who signed in 1992 in Rome, the Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended 16 years of civil war, were now together in Beira an allusive conference at twenty of the Catholic University of Mozambique, as is the It happened in the founding of the institution.
"They [Nyusi and Dhlakama] should meet to discuss those things that seem impossible, even those that seem inconvenient. Just meeting can talk. And if it does not at first may be the second, how often necessary to meet a sense and an approach ", called Joaquim Chissano, who called Afonso Dhlakama as" a necessary momentum. The Mozambican former president argued that in addition to talks between the parties, "the dialogue go-expanding and encompassing all the people," adding that the building of democracy "can not be done by one entity" and can lead decades. "The government has to seek a compromise, to find solutions in this conflict of ideas with the party Renamo," noted the former statesman, warning that the conflict should not cause fears. "I learned that we should not be afraid of conflict, we must have courage is to manage, and manage an effective way to transform the conflict into a good thing and always like this," he said. In the presence of Afonso Dhlakama, Chissano argued that conflicts are even beneficial, being a development dynamo, but considered it necessary to manage them effectively, with the formula "conflict solution, conflict-solution." "The most important in a democracy is not the multiparty system is the creation of the trust that binds us so we can talk, in order to diverge, creating contradiction and solve the contradiction, to another contradiction coming up with new quality," said Joaquim Chissano, who asked politicians to undress fears and fears. Chissano said that the country is losing its democratic principles and acknowledged that a country is built with some errors, deploring armed solutions and adding that the current political instability does not come from failures of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
"The talks in Rome had as its motto to value what unites and minimize what divides us. So there ever be one thing and one thing that tends to our unit. There are assessments which only later we may find that after all not there were problems, there seemed to be problems, but there is "sustained. He warned, however, that democracy in Mozambique is not a "fact ready-to-wear", admitting that saw developments but also the need to root the instruments for their application. At the conference, the governor of Sofala, in violation of the protocol, was asking Afonso Dhlakama, with a widely applauded handshake, the meeting with Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi, In response Afonso Dhlakama, said that want concrete negotiations. "I pressed my hands to [Joaquim] Chissano and [Armando] Guebuza until the [Philip] Nyusi. But I need to clear negotiations and not farces". Mozambique live moments of political uncertainty, with Renamo leader not to recognize the results of the last general election and require governance in the provinces where claims victory, threatened to seize power by force.