10th Congress of Frelimo

The general secretary of Frelimo party, Filipe Paúnde, was apprehensive about seeing fully completed works of the complex which is being built in the neighborhood Muxara in the city of Pemba, to host the 10th congress of the party Frelimo, starting next Sunday. On Saturday morning last, Paúnde, who was accompanied by members of the political bureau and the secretariat of the Central Committee of his party, visited the works and said the Chinese contractor in charge of assembling the pavilion that will host the sessions of the event, be imperative to see the infrastructure completed and delivered to the party until the 19th day, ie four days before the start of the congress.According Paúnde, only with this term is that you can the infrastructure be available for the next phase which is the decoration and assembly of various types of devices connected to the event.Now the contractor, who has been showing his work efficiency, assured that the pavilion will be delivered before Wednesday, bearing in mind that at this moment we are in the assembly phase of about three thousand chairs, from China, like all of the material that was used to raise the flag. Another concern is the accommodation of the equipment for accredited media organs, suggesting the assembly of containers until they finish the building works crafted.

Moçambique must walk to 10 hour ...

The debate on the model of exploitation of mineral resources in Mozambique and its benefits for the state continues ... Last week was the economist and university lecturer, Firmino Mucavele, arriving on the scene. Criticized the model used by the government to manage resources and warned that "if current levels of advertising and exploitation of mineral resources continue, in a few years will only Mozambique with holes, while others will take money and go away."

According Mucavele, "we're moving at 200 kilometers per hour (in the exploitation of natural resources) and run too." According to the academic, to monitor current levels of resource exploitation, "Mozambique should send 10 thousand students per year to Australia," he said, repeating that "we will stay with holes while others will take money."

The economist said that the existence of mineral resources in the country it is not no discovery, because already in the 70s had a lot of coal in the country and the Russians and Germans spoke of these phenomena. "But now, anyone announces the findings, which is dangerous."

According to this scholar, the fight against poverty can only be effective with the work. "To teach young people do not need to use the policy, but rather simple words. Using science to create wealth. "The wealth is in the field. Leaders must know how to drive, listen. Young people have to use science to contradict dirigentes.Mucavele spoke last week at a meeting organized by the Mozambican Youth Organisation, under the "celebration of 50 years of Frelimo".

Poverty is inaccurate and useless

In 2011 the Government decided to change the name of its most emblematic instrument of public policy, the so-called Action Plan for the Reduction of Absolute Poverty (PARPA) that was being implemented with the concurrence of the World Bank (WB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) from the period between 1999/2000.

Of PARPA call went up in 2010, PARP, ie Action Plan for Poverty Reduction. Was removed the word as an adjective absolute poverty. In this context, the government brought a new definition the word poverty, which came to be understood as "impossibility disability or lack of opportunity for individuals and communities to have access to the minimum according to the basic rules of society."

The previous definition officially adopted by the Government in their PARPAS referred to poverty as "the inability of individuals to provide for themselves and their dependents a set of basic minimum conditions for their livelihoods and well-being according to the norms of society."

In "Challenges for Mozambique 2012" launched last week during a conference at IESE, the investigator Anthony Francisco highly critical of the current definition of poverty and the effectiveness of the famous PARPAS. The researcher says that the current definition of poverty found by the Government under the objectives of PARP, has no limits and therefore is inaccurate and useless. "The concept of poverty and engaging in the futility inaccuracy for measuring" he says.

António Francisco says the new definition of poverty elementary lost the attributes of an operational definition, ie "be specific, concrete and measurable useful to play a guiding role and structural analyzes and methods applied in specific circumstances."

The new definition, according to the researcher, distances itself from the monetarist sense of poverty, much blame for the inability of the authors of PARP in conferring intelligibility of the multidimensional nature of poverty. "As if there was no better way to make the multidimensional nature (lack of access to health, water, sanitation, education ...) poverty intelligible, the authors seem to distance itself from the monetarist sense getting rid of the word" absolute ".

The investigator also criticizes the fact that the current PARP in no time explaining the reasons for the replacement of the previous document name and its abbreviation, and states that, take the word "absolute" may seem a minor detail, but the truth is in this case denounces analytical impoverishing an option. "The decision to remove the word poverty was simply unhappy because the definition of the word poverty has become enlarged without limits."

To the economist, the current definition of poverty suggests that the words began to choose the meaning and not the opposite. The investigator also criticizes the failure of the main objectives does not appear sufficient reason for the extinction of PARPAS. "The recent failure of the objectives and goals with the PARPA 2006-2009. Instead of reaching the target in 2009 from 45 percent the incidence of absolute poverty stood at 55 percent, a level statically equal to 2003 but that can not hide the worsening poverty in several provinces, especially absolute poverty. "

Moreover, according to the economist, defaults in any previous authors inhibited PARP in the current state even more ambitious targets: "The PARP 2011-2014 aims to reduce the rate of incidence of food poverty from the current 54.7 percent to 42 percent in 2014 ". (M. Guente)

250 millions

The volume of investment in the tourism sector in Mozambique grew 38.8 percent in the first half of this year compared to the same period last year.According to the National Director of Tourism, Martin Muatxiwa, the government approved during the reporting period a total of 160 tourism projects worth more than 250 million U.S. dollars.The $ 250 million, according to Martin Muatxiwa, corresponding to an increase of 38.8 percent compared to the figure recorded in the same period last year when the government approved tourism projects valued at more than $ 180 million.

"We are talking about tourism projects such as hotels, restaurants and logdes, which are being built in various regions of the country based on national and foreign private investment," said the national director of Tourism for later added that "with the coming into operation of the 160 projects, hopefully, on the one hand, increasing the accommodation capacity and other new jobs. "

For example, of the 160 projects approved, yet according to the National Director of Tourism, will allow increased accommodation capacity of over three thousand beds and creating over five thousand new jobs.

Inhambane tops the listAlso according to data disclosed by the National Director of Tourism, Inhambane appears as the main destination for investments. Of the total of 160 projects, 32 are being implemented in the province of Inhambane. After Inhambane, followed by the province of Cabo Delgado with a total of 14 projects and third-lying Maputo province, with 13 approved projects.

The beautiful beaches and facilities are mentioned by Martin transitability Muatxiwa as the main reasons why most investors both domestic and foreign to choose the provinces of Inhambane, Cabo Delgado and Maputo province-like main destinations for their investments. (R. Moiane)

Catholic Church would have continued to control 90% of schools

Prof. Dr. Louis Benjamin and John Serapion Cabrita pored centrefold in the Mozambique Channel from August 15, 2012 on the subject of church and state in Mozambique.

This came because they wanted to challenge some elements contained in the interview that I gave the same newspaper last month.

I appreciate the contribution of these two intellectuals and appreciate the debate that thus emerges in the pages of your publication. I would, however, clarify, in the following lines, some of my positions that seem to have been misrepresented as bringing some additional contributions.

To begin with, Prof.. Dr. Serapion advances the argument that there would have been in the history of Mozambique two Catholic churches, one colonial and other national / prawns. I agree with this analysis in general and I think that is an important point to understand well the history of the church in the country and the strength she had before, and even after independence. For if there had been only a colonial church, as the church would have been able to continue to exist after 1975?

That said, I disagree with Professor Serapion against the idea that the break between the colonial church and the national church would have been absolutely perfect and with the advent of independence in 1975. It may be a good argument educational and political might, but the truth is much more subtle and complex. There were many disruptions with independence, particularly in relations of power within the Catholic institution, but there were also many continuities, whether they be personal, the way you operate, or the ideas and theology.

So it does not seem appropriate to say that the colonial church disappeared in Mozambique in 1975 and only became a national church that did not enjoy "privileges of any political system in the country." This statement gives the impression that the national church was a new church without any connection to the past. Now the national church developed within and under boost, the colonial church, she kept elements of this church after independence (including any personal colonial and colonial), and she wanted to save all the properties that the church had received from the colonial Portuguese power .

In his text, Cabrita John goes even further to argue that the Catholic Church had no dominant position before independence and reject the idea that there was competition between religious institutions before 1975 - he says it was "something missing." Ignore thus the Concordat and Missionary Agreement, in force until 1975, which meant that the colonial state to pay salaries to all Catholic missionaries, deliver free land to the Catholic missions and paid travel to Metropolis to staff Catholic, among other benefits. It also ignores the concomitant political and reverse opposition to all other religious institutions in the country - Protestant, Muslim, ziones, etc.. - Whom the government refused legal personality and did everything to prevent its progress.

To argue that there was no competition between monopoly Catholic religions, Cabrita gives the example of the Muslim community that the Portuguese government attempted to attract to its sphere of influence before independence, and the example of Jehovah's Witnesses in Malawi who were welcomed by the Portuguese government in the late 1960s, when pursued by President Banda.

These two examples are very selective and partial presented so far. For if some Muslims were actually co-opted by the colonial power in the late 1960s (after years of discrimination), the truth is that while others were arrested, and some killed by police colonial policy, including some Sheiks. [1] In As regards the Jehovah's Witnesses, the shelter given by the colonial power can not be used as an argument for equality of religions in Mozambique. First because the refuge was given to them in the border areas in order to create a buffer zone against the Frelimo entry in Zambezia, since Jehovah's Witnesses refuse (as always) to enter into politics. Second, this development happened while the colonial power continued to repress JWs Mozambique that were seen as subversive by refusing to support the Portuguese, do military service, and salute the national flag, not wanting to get into politics no. [2]

If the colonial period was not all pretty, without inequality and competition between religions, the post-independence period was not all bad. It was not like Cabrita states, years where Frelimo had only a "draft totalitarian nature." Whether we like it or not, Frelimo only triggered a full and open struggle against churches since 1978. It is true that there was some fighting religious institutions before that, but it was not full and was very specific and limited - the Nazarene Church because of links to the PIDE and imperialism, Jehovah's Witnesses for being used by the Portuguese military, etc.. There was no ban on wearing religious clothing in public, no churches closed in mass, and there was no campaigning in favor of atheism as was the case between 1978 and 1982. The turn of 1978 has to do with the III Congress where the Party and State and merged with the removal of religious practitioners elements within the leadership of Frelimo, withdrawal without which the shift would not have been possible. [3]

Finally, Joao Cabrita states scandalized by the fact that I have stated that the religious situation in the country today is positive. In fact, he believes that saying that, I would have said that the fight against religions would have been positive. There is a misunderstanding here, because what was said and written, and I confirm once again, is that the current religious situation in the country is positive and nationalization contributed to this (not repression!). We see that because, if there were nationalizations, the Catholic church would have continued to control 90% of schools in the country as in colonial times (controlled 89.3% of schools in the country in 1964), and this would have created problems in a country where nearly independent 20% of the population is Catholic, 20% are Muslim, 30% is non-Catholic Christian, and most adept, partial or total, of traditional religion.

The magazine features Valentina Guebuza as a young "entrepreneur" which won the wealth with work. The text is signed by Emanuel Pereira Novais, introduces the daughter of the head of the Mozambican state as "one of the largest actoras the growing economy of Mozambique," says "Valentina has" only 32 years "but" is the company managing the family ( Guebuza) to 'Focus 21' ", and thus represents" a new class of entrepreneurs: young, professional and rich. "

According to Forbes magazine, since 2006 (when Guebuza was already head of state), Valentina began directing the group's corporate family Guebuza, the 'FOCUS 21', which are businesses valued at $ 5 million Americans. The FOCUS group has interests in diverse areas, from communication, consultancy, logistics, mining.

Speaking to Forbes, Valentina Guebuza said that the family business emerged two decades ago, but recognizes that in recent years has signed lucrative deals. It read magazine in the company's partnerships with Guebuza family 'Beers of Mozambique' and the 'International Star Times' for the constitution of Mozambique Star Times, which has Valentina Guebuza as President of the Board of Directors.

In the Report, Valentina Guebuza tells the story of a childhood and a humble young man who was working lower class.

As for children, says he played football and helped in housework at home as "washing up". He says that while studying civil engineering, was working in a restaurant, and also secretary and senior year started a consulting company in civil engineering consulting where he gained practical experience in the area.

The daughter of the head of state does not mention the restaurant where he worked, also says that no company was secretary.

Throughout the Report, Valentina was mentioning his "success story" and its international recognition in international forums such as the participation in the latest G20 meeting, and the "Forum of Leaders of Tomorrow" events that happened when the father of Valentina now was head of state.

Finally, the magazine FORBES makes comparison of "entrepreneurship" Guebuza's daughter with the daughter of José Eduardo dos Santos, Isabel dos Santos.

Fiscal disobedience

Communities Muslim, Hindu and Ismaili Mozambique threaten to launch a civil disobedience campaign nationwide. Concerned, another kidnapping of a young muçulmana.Um new kidnapping in Maputo was the straw that broke the camel's Muslim community. A 17 year-old, of Asian origin, was kidnapped at the beginning of the night of Thursday, the Mozambican capital. In response, representatives of the Muslim community, Hindu and Ismaili met this Friday in Maputo to coordinate positions in order to pressure the government to agir.De agree with Mr Ismael Mussa, communities threaten to carry out demonstrations, a general strike, a march towards the Ministry of Interior and a campaign of disobedience fiscal.Em only a year and a half, 30 members of the Muslim community were kidnapped in Maputo.

Mr. Wachapo

The situação policy in Angoche district, province of Nampula, and cut the FACA since late last Monday. It is as always serving "higher orders of the party", the Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM) at the point of country deteve delegate rename local politician, Ainge Mecossilima Chande.Angoche is considered um of the great bastions of the game rename the Northern Region the country, sufficient to effect turn up the flood which has registado quando Afonso Dhlakama, leader of those advantage of oposição, to wool desloca.Relatos that chegam Angoche gives account that the detention of the political executive rename that district, Ainge Chand is motivated by a weird charge, Provo cujas NON foramen cleared peel PRM. It is claimed that "MEN rename" tenham assaulted Secretary of FRELIMO in town of Sangage, António Wachapo.Contam sources presenciaram the incident em Sangage "quando Brigade rename, set hair bosses of the national departments of mobilization and Organização Armindo Milaco and Sergio Braz, respectively chegaram Sangage, Secretary of FRELIMO was opening the door um cars and them said that the Secretary-geral rename NON would fazer political rally in that locality. " Nem was the SG rename Who would doing the rally. In its Presse, the Secretary of the FRELIMO NEM gave WORKED see Who would rally.

Um agent of PRM affect the command of Angoche District, assistiu the case spoke to Org.comunicacao, and, fearing reprisals, requested anonymity. The agent explained that "LADIES Wachapo was quem caused those LADIES, quando chegaram. Before saírem the car he começou doing confusão ". Num another development, the PRM agents told us that" moments that seguiram, foramen of agitation, until the população pushed LADIES Wachapo and fell. Quando he got up, picked up the speck and it was to the city of Angoche, where he said the district commander that tinha been beaten by MEN rename. This NON constitutes the truth. The commander No. pautou by nenhuma investigação police was limited only em ask u team of FIR from the provincial command. "

This OUR interlocutor also assegurou that "this can be tricky because população is VERY disgusted and always talking out there in the neighborhoods you are waiting for u provocação FRELIMO to burn it." Reports that chegaram Angoche davam account of the ease of Ainge Chand higher order of PRM and then to the outstanding team of the FIR have noticed exaggeration by the Secretary of FRELIMO in the town of Sangage.Refira up that Armindo Milaco and Sergio Braz, respectively bosses of national mobilization and departments of Organização Rename, trabalham the province of Nampula from week passada. Em Angoche to rally popular German held in the town of Sangage last Sunday and Monday afternoon, before the arrest of political district delegate, um another rally popular TVs in the populous neighborhood place of Ínguri. (A.Silva)

Government supports internationalization

The Mozambican government challenges the Mozambican companies looking to internationalize that can guarantee the conquest of markets worldwide.

"The internationalization of LIDE in a short period of time should cause us to reflect on the process of internationalization of Mozambican companies as they are gaining greater robustness necessarily have to walk to their own internationalization, facilitating thereby the achievement of a vast market available in the region, continent and the planet, "said Minister of Industry and Trade, Armando Inroga.According to the Minister of Industry and Trade, Armando Inroga, speaking late on Wednesday in Maputo where he represented the Prime Minister, Aires Ali, the official launch ceremony of the LIDE Mozambique, "business leaders" that are affiliated forum "should contribute to the creation of national and international strategic partnerships that enable a secure and sustainable positioning in the international market."

"Of course this is not an easy step to be taken, given that competition in the international market requires an appropriate muscles where rules will face very sophisticated market and demands ever higher," admitted the minister.

Inroga Armando defended the intervention LIDE thought of as a forum for business leaders, vector-like approach and discussion of economic and political issues of national interest, strengthening the principles of good governance and defense of ethics, democratic principles and management efficiency in public and private sectors can complement government efforts.However, last Wednesday was officially presented in Maputo Mozambique LIDE, an organization of entrepreneurs aimed at strengthening the relationship between thought and various business leaders Mozambicans. The ceremony was witnessed by Minister of Industry and Trade, Armando Inroga by Tourism Minister Fernando Sumbana, and business leaders.

The LIDE Mozambique is an organization that aims to discuss matters of business of various sectors such as economy, education, health, environment, social issues, sports, youth, culture, women, energy, mineral resource, sea, among others.

The organization that has as President of the Management Committee the current Chairman of the Board (PCA) of the Millennium bim, Mario Machungo also includes Ana Paula Figueiredo, as chief executive and Calane da Silva as president of the sub-committee of Culture among other personalities from the political, cultural and business. Will the harmonization of members in order to make proposals that are strategically important to the communities in different regions of the country.The Forum has offices in over 10 countries, including Italy, Portugal, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Angola, China, United States, South Africa and Mozambique now.

The group of companies is a congregation of people from academia and society, which has convergence in ideals and aims to organize companies to exchange ideas with institutions.

In essence, the principles of the LIDE have to adapt according to the reality of each region.

Through the organization, international entrepreneurs can learn about the peculiarity of the opportunities that Mozambique offers, in addition to the replica of winning models from other countries, exchange of ideas, as well as business opportunities and helping communities.

"Mozambique needs to show up and give communication conditions, opportunities, conditions that arise through academics, businessmen, journalists, economists and other stakeholders," said the president of the International LIDE, Luiz Fernando Furlan.By showing the potential the country offers, the organization is, according to Luiz Fernando Furlan, causing the attraction of investments and partnerships, as well as propagandeá them, in addition to offering low-cost placements to young graduates.

For small and medium enterprises, the advantage, according to Fernando Furlan, will be the possibility of integration into various business processes, partnerships and investments and to exchange ideas.

Mozambique is the second African country of Angola after receiving the group of business leaders (LIDE), an organization whose mission is to promote integration between companies, organizations and private entities, through program discussions, business forums, activities and content initiatives to support sustainability and social responsibility.The LIDE Mozambique emerged as heir to the LIDE Brazil, a network of lobbying and networkking business that brings together the managers of the major Brazilian private companies and leading international corporations, whose aim is to create synergies, ideas and activities within the framework of thought, relationship and ethical principles corporate governance in Brazil. Currently meets at her breast about 47 per cent of Gross Domestic Product Brazilian private. 

This teacher and "freak"

The interview with the Mozambique Channel by the Director of the Research Institute for Social and Economic Studies (IESE), Professor Anthony Francisco, left distraught many "comrades" defenders of the government of the day. There are those who chose to mutter under his armpits challenging the views of academics and others could not restrain himself, preferring to launch attacks directly the economist. The controversy generated by Antonio Francisco took a lot of sleep and created a healthy controversy, encouraging applause from broad sectors throughout the country and internationally while unnerved others who have seen the statements of Professor provocation to the status quo.

Adelino Buque, administrator of the National Social Security Institute (INSS) and analyst loyal to the regime chose to dub the entire interview "aberration," and even claiming that Professor Francis Anthony is a person "just committed to the IESE."

In an interview with the Mozambique Channel / Canalmoz the Director of Research at IESE bitterly criticized the policies of the Government of the day, having, among other things, said that the current regime to which he has dubbed "absolutist and dirigiste", the term invites coups and insubordination. He also said that it is the donors who have fought the arrogance of the regime.

"Sometimes donors require the Frelimo party to eat frogs. We now only do elections to ensure donor support and recognition of Mozambique as a caricature of representative democracy, "said Professor Anthony Francisco since the time of the interview.

About the business environment, one researcher told the weekly newspaper and the Mozambique Channel Canalmoz that only a few businesses achieve high profitability while most people are to survive in the doldrums, an environment in which only an elite with political power can aspire to participate in banquet business environment.

Adelino Buque did not like the statements of Professor. In an opinion column published in the digital diary published in Maputo "Morning Post", came out in attack on Buque respected academic who has been dean of the Faculty of Economics, University Eduardo Mondlane.

Buque disagree completely reading the research director of IESE in relation to the business environment for allegedly valuation rules "are not of Mozambicans". The administrator of the INSS (an institution steeped in corruption schemes which is currently in the spotlight and has led to the compulsory retirement of the PCA and the Director General) says that the assessments of the business environment are controversial to the point that in his opinion or Mozambicans understand why the ratings assigned to Mozambique. Without explaining what he meant by the business environment, Adelino Buque sharpens attack on the person of the Director of Research at IESE in stating that "Professor does not know this referred to when talking about the business environment."

Buque Adeline, who was chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Airports Company of Mozambique when he was surprised by the complaints of the workers of that company on misuse of funds and valuables exorbitant, that these complaints would be taken to court by forming one of the cases more media about corruption in the regime, even attacked Professor António Francisco claiming that this would be to flee to the direction of the IESE has championed. He made the attack in a tone almost to propose censorship of intellectual freedom of the professor and research director of the Institute of Social and Economic Studies, one of the institutions of the country in which the diversity of ideas, the quality of thinking and independence of thought planted in her womb it is raised to higher levels of credibility not only in the country and beyond. (M. Guente)

We are encouraged to use resources in a deregulated

António Alberto da Silva Francisco is Research Director, Institute for Social and Economic Studies (IESE), Associate Professor at the Faculty of Economics, University Eduardo Mondlane (UEM), Master and PhD in Demography from the Australian National University (ANU) and BA in Economics UEM (Universidade Eduardo Mondlane). Over the past 10 years has not visited his birthplace city. Was there for days. This served as the motto for this interview.

CM: In the past few months Professor Anthony Francisco has called attention to an old issue but few researchers are interested in him, in the case of Mozambican society. He did so in relation to the City of Maputo, then Quelimane last June, and still in Nampula. A topic that relates affect the whole country, with a sounding name, but few seem to know its real meaning. That is, calls it a "tragedy of the commons". What do you mean by "tragedy of the commons" and what it means in Mozambique?

AF - Tragedy of the commons is undoubtedly a controversial concept, as indeed any concept that deals with the moves and behaviors, social relationships, prejudice, and individual habits. Simply put, the tragedy of the commons is a kind of trap social, cultural and especially economic, in which people derive the maximum benefit of a common good, without worrying about how to contribute to its production and conservation. A social trap arising from the conflict between individual interests concentrate on the use of finite resources considered joint property of all public goods in general and nobody in particular.Numa society where people are encouraged to use resources in a free and unregulated end to use these resources in an abusive manner and exaggerated. A common and known the time when the income property were nationalized and banned, we had a APIE (Administration of Property of the State Park), the service elevators, water and lights in public spaces have been completely degraded. Who cared about the taps? How long did a light input, what happened to the elevators? Lights always on. Nobody wanted to know. Why save if the State took over as sole owner and responsible for the common good? Why be spared and be careful with things if the neighbor did not care to use things without any control?

CM: But this happens only in the cities or affect the whole country? Why has recently highlighted the City of Maputo, when the controversy arose between the city council of the municipality and the informal Maputo City, earlier this year? More recently was the Quelimane and made a very provocative speech: "How do I free Quelimane the tragedy of the commons?" This is a problem mainly urban, or is it a problem that also affects the rural areas, for example, natural resources as has been said both?

AF - Let's clarify this subject well. The contents of the tragedy of the commons is not defined in terms of urban-rural classification. I got up and wrote about it last February, because of the conflict between the city council and the informal in Maputo City, for the case I have awakened attention to the phenomenon. First of all, the tragedy of the commons is a social relationship, a social trap created by institutions or rules of play in society, where people are encouraged to derive the greatest benefit of the resource with the lowest possible cost.The term is very old. Dates back to ancient Greece, Aristotle, but it was the biologist Garrett Hardin popularized the idea that "the tragedy of the commons" in a small but seminal article published in 1968 in the journal Science. It has been the most cited articles and used in scientific research, either for or against the idea. Hardin pointed out, in that article, there are certain problems in society that can not be solved by technical means, but changing social relations, human values, ideas of morality and perceptions of personal responsibility. Exemplifying a kind of purely technical problem without solution, Hardin said the relationship between human population growth and capacity utilization of resources on a finite planet.

CM: What did you think of Quelimane, after being more than ten years without going back there?

AF - Quelimane receded dramatically receded in proportion to the economic setback Zambezian. It is a dying city that refuses to languish and die. A good picture of Quelimane can be read in the book entitled, "The Underground City" by Elio Mudender. He called it romance, but for me it's more a documentary of the tragedy quelimanense. While the author describes the city plunged into a morass of misery and poverty, corruption, envy, persecution and revenge, I worry about understanding the social fabric of such a trap.

CM: As a university professor for nearly thirty years, what did you think of the university community, knowing that Quelimane, in a few years got five or six universities?

AF - Yeah. Five universities and could not find a single open and available to host one of the debates that were held in the Main Hall of the city of Quelimane. Apparently, they had stopped classes for tests and exams. It is a system like high school. But the most curious and strange was there a group or student association, committed to promoting discussions of current interest. Who walks to do so is the Mayor who has culture and sensitivity académica.Ainda was a teacher at the Polytechnic University (??) Sent one or two classes for the second lecture I did. At that time I shared with them the feeling I had. In Maputo, the popular voice says that the National Assembly is the "kindergarten of the noise." In Quelimane, I got the feeling that universities are true small schools of silence, for the student and academic debate is non-existent. This is a pity. When I was in high school in 1973 and 1974, even before the fall of the Caetano regime in Portugal, April 25, a core of high school students, high school and technical school, college students had contact with Lourenco Marques and exchanged with each other books. It was so at the time read my first banned book "The Origin of the Family, Property and the State", Friedrich Engels. And now, when there is no literary censorship, we have the problem of students and young people read very little about classical literature and política.De anyway, on the positive side, it is interesting now to go have a Quelimane and the Mayor to boost the public debate and reflection. This is what is making the Mayor Manuel de Araujo ... On August 21 Quelimane will celebrate 70 years as a city. Coincidentally, the day we did the first lecture, missing 70 days to the anniversary. Manuel de Araujo publicly announced that day that that speech was the first of a series of other lectures under the theme "Rethinking Quelimane, Zambezia Rethinking." That was when I presented the theme: "Getting rid of Quelimane Tragedy of the Commons." Then I did another one on the opportunities and constraints of the formal economy in Zambezia. However, Manuel de Araujo wants to continue with the debate, he has been inviting zambezianos, and not only, also others who are interested in supporting the process of change that is happening in Quelimane ...

Cm: In Quelimane or Country?

 AF - Yes, in Quelimane. That city is a unique experience in its history. As is known, from December 7 last came a change of political leadership never before seen in Quelimane. Despite being one of the few or the only municipality in the province of Zambezia with an alternation of political leadership, in the recent municipal elections, was the first time that there was a change really partisan. Quelimane began to redefine themselves and rethink their place and role as part of a major Mozambican provinces in terms of population and beyond.

Cm: The Beira should also do this?

AF - Yes, the border should do. Only in Beira political leadership alternative to the ruling party in the rest of the country, Frelimo, shows no substance and intellectual vigor. The benefit and difference that emerged in Quelimane is a President who has an intellectual and academic career, which allowed him to purchase an additional sensitivity.

Cm - This will allow Manuel de Araújo can manage the municipality? Will he lose himself in this kind of cultural and intellectual? Knowing he only has a mandate, too short for now - think he'll be able to remain after 2013?

AF - Manuel de Araújo has a short term, yes. He can not do major works, why not have time, but can make a difference with this type of initiative, and many others, practical and immediate impact on people's lives. Some of these initiatives does not cost money; only costs judgment and political vision. It can resolve the litigation facing the markets of sellers, which I'm convinced it will solve. It is a ridiculous problem inherited from the previous city council. From what I understand the previous mayor, Pio Matos, dealers concentrated in the old show, "FAE", a place quite remote and out of hand in terms of central market and customer proximity. Of course, because of this, these vendors have become supporters of the change to Manuel de Araujo, because they saw in him the hope of understanding their concerns. After the victory of Ali as some vendors have left the room and took to the streets. But then people start to get annoyed with this sale disorderly in the street, which is also de Araujo legítimo.Manuel have here an opportunity to manage one of the many little traps of social tragedy of the commons. The lack of clear rules on how far they can go and where to end the rights of informal traders, where they begin and end formal rights of vendors, as well as respect the rights of consumers. All this requires clear rules of operation and relationship between people, putting sellers in a space more accessible to customers, resolving the matter by way of economic rather than administrative or police. That is a problem of economy of Retailers, which sells clothes, but a problem that will increase because people in the city and increase the chances of producing something that manages it increases at the same pace.

Who is the bridge of Katembe?

"It's terrible to have leaders with a vision impairment to the city of Maputo, Maputo forgetting that represents, in terms of dimensional and population, an almost insignificant portion of this country. It is true that this city has a significant contribution in the statistics, especially when calculating the rate of redistribution of income. For example, only the income of our Head of State, Armando Guebuza, is capable, in statistics, putting thousands of Mozambicans above the poverty line, when in reality they are below this line. "
The Government announces with pomp and circumstance, the debt contracted for the construction of the bridge to Ka Tembe over the Bay of Maputo. This is a loan of 689.4 million dollars between concessional credits (10%) and commercial loans (85%), and another 5% to be disbursed by the Mozambican government. Altogether, the bridge will cost us $ 725 million. No doubt it is a great achievement, not for most, but for the Mozambican elite. First, the idea of ​​building a bridge to Ka Tembe is not all bad, but not a priority for a country that still fails to provide quality primary services to its citizens. Certainly not the public interest that the Government moves to plunge the state into debt avultadas to build an infrastructure like that, but yes, a private interest of a predatory elite. Is some of that money will strengthen the financial power of the same elite through corruption and commission payments. With this power, will strengthen the control media and civil society. Second, their businesses, through patronage, will be hired to provide services during construction of the bridge. But this would not be problem if the process was transparent. Third, perhaps the most serious, is that this project is simply elitist and unnecessary to benefit the minority at the expense of most suffering.
Mozambique is Maputo, there are 250 deputies nor the Chinese expatriates who dream of a citadel and a parliamentary China Town, the Ka Tembe, much less a government of ambitious 20-somethings. Looking at what is Mozambique, there are more priorities than a bridge over the bay of Maputo, especially in a country in which districts and administrative posts are not connected by roads and bridges, a location in which to die of hunger, while a another contiguous, the food rots for lack of access routes for the flow of products to the market, in a country where thousands of children, and when it rains in this period of cold, do not study because there are classrooms, but under trees, in which thousands of women die in childbirth along with their babies because of lack of health facilities for care. Indeed, in a country where pregnant women are forced to travel tens of kilometers in search of a facility for monitoring prenatal care; in which thousands of Mozambicans die from lack of health care, where patients abandon treatments for AIDS anti -retrovirals because health facilities are located at 50 km or more of their residence. Moreover, no conditions for passability of vehicles, and pass, make it once a day.
A month ago, the Stv reported a chilling case in the district of Mopeia, in Zambezia province. This is the case of a lady who was being transported by bicycle for five people, three men who ensured the bike and two women who accompanied her to the health center that is distant 40 km. In the interview, which occurred at 12:00, said they had left home by turns midnight. So, were there was 12 hours, pushing a bicycle on which a pregnant woman was a roll and drop groan. They were 12 hours without rest and suffering.
Those situations are, according to respondents, normal for pregnant women when arriving at the ninth month of pregnancy. Is that motherhood is far from their homes and have no close by, the "Mother House expected."

 That lady was 40 km from suffering. Suffering the pains of childbirth pain and suffering caused by iron of a bicycle that was carrying. It was sad, but very sad to see her rolling around on a bicycle, provided by three people. In fact, her suffering was felt by more than companions proper for it.
He hoped that some governing, especially the President, had seen the suffering that you and your family. The same woman who won one day to vote for him in exchange for promises of solving the problems it until today, have not seen them resolved. It's the same lady who danced rulers seeking to accommodate the voting power, but who, today, and forget, rather than building an access road and a facility to ease your pain and suffering of their family, as you promised, want to build a bridge to accommodate your business and tourist appetites.
The Minister of Planning and Development, Cuereneia was clear in saying that the project is more than the tourist office: "Usually when we talk about this project, we speak only of the bridge, the bridge itself but we Maputo Ka-Tembe, to beyond the road Ka-Tembe Ponta de Ouro and the road-Matutuíne Boane. These areas have great potential economic and tourism in particular. Right now, the part of South Africa is already in good trafficability and here there is no good on the road, which means that domestic tourism is impaired. We are saying, however, that with the bridge to Ka Tembe, we will develop the other side of Maputo Bay, which means that the city of Maputo has a space for its expansion, and these are economic gains the country will have. " The question is: who is doing the Mozambican tourism? Certainly not the one that voted, and he still did not solve the basic problems of food self-sufficiency. They are, indeed, they already are more concerned by whims. Those who, when they wake up, your problem is not having enough to eat, but the difficulty of choosing what to eat.
The newspaper "The Nation" last Monday made a report that showed, if we decide to invest in priority areas, which was possible with this money:

     Build at least 6,300 health centers to hospitals around the country, which would have in each administrative post 14 health facilities of its kind. At this point, it is estimated that 50% of the population live more than 20 km from the nearest health facility.
    Develop a coal mining the size of which are currently being developed by multinational companies in the district of Moatize, Tete province.
    Build at least seven bridges Armando Emilio Guebuza, an infrastructure that connects the south, center and north.
I get the impression that it is more important, perhaps even feasible, a bridge connecting Gherkin / Inhambane Maputo than / Ka Tembe. Maputo / Ka Tembe crosses of two barges which not only transport people, vehicles as well. Ka Tembe and Ponta de Ouro have input via Boane to be less distant than the deviation Gherkin / Inhambane. What we need in Ka Tembe, there is a bridge over the bay of Maputo, is therefore the rehabilitation of roads and expansion of the pier, the circulation 24 hours per day of barges.
It is terrible to have leaders with a vision impairment to the city of Maputo, Maputo forgetting that represents, in terms of dimensional and population, an almost insignificant portion of this country. It is true that this city has a significant contribution in the statistics, especially when calculating the rate of redistribution of income (income per capita). For example, only the income of our Head of State, Armando Guebuza, is capable, in statistics, putting thousands of Mozambicans above the poverty line, when in reality they are below this line. That is, join the income of 10,000 or more Mozambicans poor (living with at least $ 1 per day) to the Head of State (thousands of dollars / day), the statistics may reveal that all 10,000 are citizens of the class average. This is the importance of the city of Maputo in the statistics: removes us from poverty, without having evolved, which means that Mozambique is given as an example for poverty alleviation. The error statistics do not realize is that in Mozambique, more than the incomes of the poor to rise, is the richest wealth increases, which is just reflecting the conclusion that poverty is decreasing or stationary when is increasing.
That lady just now must have realized that this Government Guebuza and company does not tolerate nor cares about the suffering of the poor, but with the rich. It is ruthless. It is insensitive. It's elitist. It is individualistic. It is a localist vision. Only now is that you must have realized that the President does not feel the pain she feels because of lack of access roads and health facilities, it is only now that you must have realized that the only head of state arrives in your area helicopter, not through any of the holes she had to face hanging on a bicycle, it is only now that you must have realized that the Head of State always flies with a small mobile health unit in your plane, it does not feel the hardship she spent over 40 km on a bike. Members should know that she chose acceded least the idea, because the project will enable the Parliamentary Citadel, not the construction of a facility in the amount of $ 120,000 to relieve your pain and suffering of their families.
I miss the "Leaving Floor" because at least we walked all.

600 000 euros for the education of disabled people in the country

Close to 600 000 euros will be invested in a project of Literacy and Adult Education Inclusive in Mozambique whose target group is vulnerable, particularly disabled most notably for the blind. The project is funded by the European Union (EU), with 75% of the total funding, and the remaining 25% financed by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany (BMZ). The availability of this amount was announced Tuesday in Maputo, during the launch of the project itself for Literacy and Adult Education Inclusive in Mozambique by the Institute for International Cooperation of the German Association for Adult Education (DVV International) and Association of Blind and Partially Sighted Moçambique.Este project will cover only two provinces country, namely Maputo and Sofala, and will be implemented for a period of three years (2012-2015). It is estimated that the same project could be around 100 000 young and adult illiterates or semi-literate in two províncias.Segundo was revealed, the project in question is intended to contribute to the provision, integration of literacy and academic skill building for vulnerable groups particularly people with disabilities at the meeting físicas.Falando, Laurindo Nhacume, national director of Adult Education, recognized the importance of the project, claiming that the Government has not yet been able to respond to the educational requirements of the disabled especially the blind. Nhacume regretted that there are still many disabled people in the country outside the national education system, for alleged inadequacies of programs and special technical literacy of this vulnerable group.

Meanwhile, David Harrington, director of the Institute for International Cooperation of the German Association for Adult Education (DVV International), said the project fits now released under the contribution of their guild "DVV International" to promote equal opportunities through the process of providing access to education. The source is committed to the Institute for International Cooperation of the German Association for Adult Education (DVV International) continue to fund projects of access to education to reduce illiteracy rates, especially among vulnerable groups, particularly the blind.

Another problem that complicates the process of teaching and learning for the blind is the lack of teaching materials facing the visually impaired. This situation has been frustrating the intentions of the disabled to escolarizarem, revealed the second representative of the Association of Blind and Partially Sighted of Mozambique, during the launch of the draft Literacy and Adult Education in Inclusive Moçambique.A source said that the draft literacy can greatly reduce the level of illiteracy that affects many blind. However, he appealed to the spread of this project to other provinces to cover a greater number of disabled visuais.Refira is concerned that the project will only cover two provinces, namely Maputo and Sofala. (A. Frades)

Distracted deceive PRESIDENT

Just three days after the president left the province of Nampula, just theater. Everything returned to normal. The mechanized efforts that were undertaken to keep clean the streets of the city during the recent visit by Guebuza, no longer exists. The city of Nampula, the capital of the province's most populous country, has returned to what it always was. Nampula is once again a dirty city and the streets that were disguised holes are back to being what they always were.

During the stay in so-called "open presidency" Armando Guebuza saw what was prepared to keep you distracted. Rehabilitated roads saw the rush - however badly - saw some cleaning which in its day-to-day not nampulenses has fun. Trucks and other large machinery "caliber" to disappear again. The City Council that mobilized this world and that to ensure cleaner for the "boss" see, after Guebuza sail back to the usual sloppiness that the city council voted Nampula.

The same work was done three days ago with machinery to match, is now guaranteed again with hand shovels and brooms plastic, these mostly wrested from street vendors, in operations against the informal trade or walking.

On the morning of Saturday, visited a few streets and avenues named the capital of the north. We observed in situ, the city council workers working again without the minimum conditions of security.At the junction between the streets Philip Samuel Magic (Flower Street) and Moma street, witnessed the city council workers engaged on construction and land development area to plug small holes again on hand to ensure that the participants of the VII National Festival of Culture, ended yesterday in Nampula, could circulate.

Some workers spoke to Canalmoz and made clear that the president was up and everything was again as before. "Our job is just plugging some holes. As you can see we do not have such equipment. What we saw is over. The City Council asked for help to the CMC-Southern Africa, to support the plugging of holes. We do not have the capacity nor the means to do so. "

Workers assured that the work of last Saturday was being coordinated by engineer Iva Langa, the City Council. (A.Silva)

GUEBUZA CALLS FOR "AGGRESSIVE" ROAD STRATEGY

Mozambican President Armando Guebuza declared on Tuesday that the country needs “an aggressive strategy” to respond to the growing needs for road construction and maintenance in the rural areas.Speaking at an extraordinary meeting of the government of the Chitunda administrative post, in Muidumbe district, in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, Guebuza said that such a strategy would require that road building and maintenance materials should be stored under the responsibility of each of the country’s 128 districts.He stressed the problems caused to rural producers by badly maintained roads. Farmers grew crops, Guebuza said, only to find that they are unable to take their surplus to market, because the rural roads are so poor.He was speaking after a rally in Chitunda, at which several people asked him to intervene to ensure the opening or rehabilitation of access roads that would facilitate the movement of produce, and also allow ambulances to take sick people to the nearest hospital.Guebuza stressed that the Mozambican state has decentralized resources to district level, precisely in order to meet the needs for basic infrastructure.Some years ago, the government decided to allocate 2.5 million meticais a year from the state budget to each district for infrastructures. That infrastructure fund has now risen to seven million meticais (about 250,000 US dollars) per district per year.“There are many people who can’t sell their produce because the roads either do not exist or are in poor condition”, said Guebuza. “So why is part of this sum not being used to acquire road building equipment?”

The President added that he believes that loans from commercial banks can be obtained to acquire road construction or maintenance equipment, and the district governments could use the infrastructure fund to pay off the loans. He suggested that two or more districts could enter into partnerships in order to acquire this equipment. In most of the rallies Guebuza has addressed during his “open and inclusive presidency” local residents have complained of the damaging consequences of the poor rural road network.

VIOLENT SOLDIERS ARRESTED

Mozambican Defence Minister Filipe Nyussi has confirmed the arrest of soldiers accused of carrying out beatings and rapes in Mahlampswene, an outlying neighbourhood of the southern city of Matola.A report carried on Tuesday by the independent daily “O Pais” cited Mahlampswene residents complaining bitterly about the behaviour of soldiers based in the local barracks. In particular, they accused the soldiers of beating up nine civilians, and raping two girls last Friday night.Reacting to these accusations, Nyussi told reporters on Tuesday afternoon that the four soldiers concerned have been identified and arrested. They are now in the custody of the military police.Nyussi said the four committed their crimes after they had gone drinking. He said the beatings, rapes and thefts reported were the responsibility of the four men as citizens, and not as soldiers. They were not acting under any command from their superiors, he said, and their violent behaviour should not be blamed on the Mozambican armed forces (FADM) as a whole.But a report published on Wednesday by the daily paper “Noticias”, citing neighbourhood official Orlando Mahumane, puts the number of soldiers involved in the disturbances at “more than 15”.According to Mahumane, the problem started when three soldiers got into a brawl with local residents in the Mahlampswene market. The three were overpowered and thrown out of the market. Shortly afterwards, they returned with reinforcements to retaliate. Mahumane said they lashed out indiscriminately at anyone in the market, and also attacked passers-by. They tore the shirts off their victims’ backs and stole mobile phones and money from them.Mahumane said he had been due to discuss the matter with the barracks commander on Monday, but the meeting did not occur because the commander decided to remit the case to his superiors.The FADM has now set up a commission to deal with the matter, which plans to hold a meeting with the Mahlampswene population on Wednesday.

REN BECOMES CAHORA BASSA SHAREHOLDER

The Portuguese energy company REN (Redes Energeticas Nacionais) has announced the completion of 7.5 per cent of the shares of Hidroelectrica de Cahora Bassa (HCB), the company that operates the Cahora Bassa dam in the western Mozambican province of Tete.These shares were owned by the Portuguese state, and selling them to REN was part of the agreement reached between the Mozambican and Portuguese governments in April, during the visit to Maputo by Portuguese Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho.Via the company that manages Portuguese public shareholdings, Parpublica, the Lisbon government was to sell off the 15 per cent that it still held in HCB. REN was to pay 38.4 million euros (48.2 million US dollars) for its 7.5 per cent, while the other 7.5 per cent would be sold to HCB itself for 58.6 million euros.The deal was subject to the consent of a general meeting of HCB shareholders – consent that was easily obtained given that the only shareholders are the Mozambican and Portuguese states. The REN statement announced that the 7.5 per cent (slightly more than two million shares) was transferred to REN on Tuesday.REN also confirmed that it “intends to reposition itself in the Mozambican energy market, particularly in the energy transmission market”.This includes the possibility of taking part in the construction of CESUL – a new transmission line running from the Zambezi valley southwards to Maputo, and generally referred to as the “backbone” of the Mozambican electricity grid. REN hopes to be a “technological partner and services provider” for this project, through purchasing holdings in companies directly or indirectly owned by the Mozambican electricity distribution company, EDM.In exchange for its participation in CESUL, REN will gradually relinquish its holding in HCB. This is effectively a swap – REN will acquire shares in the EDM companies involved in CESUL, in exchange for its HCB shares. As a result, within two years Mozambique will own 100 per cent of HCB.CESUL is crucial to the future of energy supply in Mozambique, and the country’s exports of electricity, because the existing line, from Cahora Bassa to the Apollo substation in South Africa, cannot carry any more power. More power stations are planned for Tete. These include a second power station at Cahora Bassa (on the north bank of the Zambezi), a new dam at Mepanda Nkua, 60 kilometres downstream from Cahora Bassa, and coal-fired power stations that will use the lower-grade coal that mining companies do not export. This power can only reach its intended markets, in central and southern Mozambique, and in South Africa, if new transmission lines are built. The estimated cost of Cesul is about 1.8 billion US dollars.

At least, very strange

On the one hand the President prefers to face the critics for its governance as "apostles of doom", "talkative", "distracted" and others who accounts for those words and come to a conclusion: "Armando Guebuza is very poorly advised and through it has been losing the necessary balance expected of a Head of State ", which is either representative of all Mozambicans, regardless of its form of thought. This is the view Ericino Salema, one of the voices of civil society in Mozambique.

Director of the program "Access to Information" of the IBIS (Danish organization), Salema, a journalist and lawyer by training and has been very attentive to the unfolding socio-political life of the country says not understand how anyone (Armando Guebuza) uses the Facebook to ask for votes and have all sorts of messages of interest, and soon after was insurja Facebook when it is used by people to collect the promises that were made during the election campaign. "Our president is at least very strange," he says.

Being young, made ​​no effort to complete that does not feel represented by the National Youth Council. The justification could not be more interesting is that in his opinion the CNJ that theoretically should be a platform representing the interests of all Mozambican youth regardless of their ideological belief, intertwined with a Department last step of the Mozambican Youth Organisation, Frelimo's youth arm. That is the CNJ comply with the decisions and wishes of OJM.

About the process of revising the Constitution proposed by the Frelimo parliamentary group in parliament says that so far has been presented does not cease to be "pathetic" and believes that what has been said that there are organizations that will be used to propose a revision to the Frelimo party want.

NUMBER OF TAXPAYERS TO REACH TWO MILLION

Mozambique’s Tax Authority (AT) expects the country to have two million registered taxpayers by the end of this year, up from 1,789,000 in 2011. This represents about 17 per cent of the workforce.According to the chair of the Tax Authority, Rosario Fernandes, “our plan, as agreed by the Assembly of the Republic, is to raise 95.5 billion meticais (about 3.4 billion US dollars). That is an 18 per cent increase compared to last year when tax revenues raised 81.1 million meticais (2.9 billion dollars)”.

Fernandes stated that in 2011 the Tax Authority managed a tax ratio (the ratio of tax collection compared to the national gross domestic product) of 21.8 per cent, which he stated was the highest since the country’s independence in 1975.However, this tax ratio is still below the level of convergence of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which is set at 25 per cent.Raising more revenue from taxation is of growing importance because Mozambique’s dependence on foreign aid has been declining in recent years.According to the state budget for 2012, only 39.6 per cent of public expenditure will be covered by foreign grants and loans, with 60.4 per cent of the budget met by domestic resources. In last year’s budget 44.6 per cent of expenditure was to be covered by foreign aid, while in the 2010 budget the figure was 51.4 per cent.The downward trend is expected to continue, in part due to the current financial crisis faced by most donor countries.

LEVEL OF MALNUTRITION REMAINS UNACCEPTABLY HIGH: SETSAN

Mozambique’s Food and Nutritional Security Technical Secretariat (SETSAN) has lamented that chronic malnutrition remains at an unacceptably high levels, damaging the country’s development.Speaking in Maputo during a seminar to discuss Mozambique’s strategy for orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP), SETSAN National Coordinator Marcela Libombo explained that the current rate of poverty in the country stands at 54.7 per cent.According to Libombo, “we urgently need to find holistic solutions to improve access to food, nutritional education, personal hygiene and sanitation in order to improve the situation”.

The seminar was organized by the non-governmental organisation Helen Keller International in partnership with the Mozambican government, through SETSAN, as part of the project Reaching Agents of Change (RAC).

Dercio Matale from RAC explained that the event sought to mobilize at least six million US dollars to encourage the cultivation of OFSP in Mozambique. The sweet potatoes have high quantities of vitamin A.

According to a survey last year, the level of chronic malnutrition in Mozambique stands at 43 per cent, while micronutrient deficiency affects about two thirds of pre-school age children and is one of the causes of infant mortality.Meanwhile, a study published by SETSAN in 2006 showed that food insecurity affects 36 per cent of the Mozambican population.

“These figures are too high and reflect the cruellest human manifestation of poverty”, said Libombo, who supports promoting OFSP as part of a bio-fortification strategy.According to SETSAN, this is an approach based on foods that can be grown by communities while offering a sustainable, low cost and rapid access to micronutrients.OFSP was re-launched in the country after the floods of 2000. Since then the National Institute of Agronomic Research (IIAM) has distributed over 300,000 seedlings and approved 18 new varieties.Participants acknowledged that while Mozambique has a set of policies aimed at improving food security and nutrition, none of them mentions bio-fortification as a viable, low cost and easy dissemination strategy to solve the problem of malnutrition.In addition, it was agreed that there is a lack of resources to allow the rapid dissemination of OFSP across the country.In Mozambique, only about 300,000 households grow OFSP, with an annual production estimated at 800,000 tonnes.According to Matale, it is hoped to persuade another 200,000 families to grow OFSP over the next two years, which would bring the potato’s nutritional benefits to 600,000 families.

GUEBUZA CALLS FOR SUSTAINABLE RUBY MINING IN MSAWIS

Mozambican President Armando Guebuza on Thursday urged residents of the administrative post of Msawise, in the northern province of Niassa, to exploit mineral resources in a sustainable and wise manner, including rubies which are found in fair amounts in that region.

Guebuza, who was addressing a rally in the district of Mavago as part of his “open presidency” started on Tuesday, added that this is one of the major challenges faced by Mozambicans. According to Guebuza, everybody wants his share from country’s wealth, particularly when those riches are found bellow the ground, but often the exploitation of those resources is carried out in a disorganised manner.

'The government intends to improve the mining of rubies in Msawise, which should benefit all local residents”, explained Guebuza, answering to concerns raised by the local residents, who complained that local authorities have forced a number of people to stop their activities.

Ascimo Mbwana, one of the residents, told President Guebuza that there is plenty of wealth beneath the ground in Msawise, which is not benefiting anyone because of police actions.

'When the mines were discovered they used to generate plenty of wealth for the local population, but now we are being chased away by the police. Now, our life standard has degenerated”, complained Mbwana.A report from the local government presented to Guebuza, states that one of the obstacles for Msawise’s development 'is the delay in the legalization of area with ruby deposits, which could benefit the local population”.In the recent past, Msawise was invaded by foreigners who used to mine rubies illegally, but they were later expelled by the local authorities. During the rally, the residents also asked for the increase of the “Seven Million Meticais Fund“, construction of another bridge over the Rovuma River to ease the movement of people and goods between Mozambique and the neighbouring Tanzania, better roads, potable water and schools, among other facilities. As for the 'Seven Million Meticais,' Guebuza said its increase will depend on how it is managed by the beneficiaries themselves.

'That's why we always mention the need to repay the borrowed money in order to benefit more people. In fact, the government has already increased the money it allocates to each district”, said Guebuza, adding that now “the fund has grown and varies according to the area and number of inhabitants in each district”.

Commonly referred to as “the seven million”, this Fund began with the allocation of seven million meticais (251,000 US dollars at current exchange rates) from the state budget to each of the districts, to support small projects that would enhance food security and create jobs. The original idea was that this should be a revolving fund. Beneficiaries would repay the money lent to them, and these repayments would replenish the fund, which would cease to rely exclusively on the central state budget.But so far repayment levels remain too low.