Lovers of literature and the public in general will be able to resume their visits to historic Minerva bookshop in Maputo from the second half of this month, after it settled its circa one million meticais debt with a supplier [on the same day its assets were by order of the court]. Minerva Continental executive director Vitor Gonçalves told Savana on Wednesday said that the bookstore was currently carrying out an inventory of its assets, which would take until January 15th.By decision of the Judicial Court of the City of Maputo (TJCM), the assets of Mozambique’s oldest bookstore – and one of the oldest in Africa – were seized on the last day of 2020 because of a debt of around one million meticais to Casa das Loiças which was six months overdue.
The court order left lovers of literature concerned over the possible erasure of one of the most renowned bookstores in the capital city and the country.In contact with Savana on Wednesday morning, Minerva’s executive director said that the debt had been paid off on the same day the assets were seized, but did not elaborate further on the matter.This opens the way for the bookstore to reopen once the inventory is complete.Casa das Loiças declined to comment on the matter, referring any information to next week because of there allegedly being some aspect which needs further concertation.
Founded on April 14, 1908, Minerva Central is a leading institution in Mozambique when it comes to bookstores, stationery, graphic services, computers and IT products.In an innovative experience of combining business with pleasure, Minerva Central in November 2019 opened new facilities at the premises of the [also] historic Café Continental, located in a prime site in central Maputo.It then changed its name to Minerva & Continental, and began to offer food alongside its book and IT store, and space for cultural events such as book launches, debates, workshops, exhibitions and book fairs.
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