NEWS SUMMARY. 17TH JULY, 2009.

DEMOCRACY, GOVERNANCE AND CORRUPTION

Extra-Parliamentary parties accept they should be part of Civic Education

The Extra-Parliamentary Parties have accepted that they should be part of civic education of the electorate. After being asked to comment on the process of the updating of the electoral census, some leaders of the parties alleged that there is a lack of financial conditions to mount civic education campaigns. They also suggested that the electoral institutions should involve them in the process by funding their activities.

http://www.jornalnoticias.co.mz/pls/notimz2/getxml/pt/contentx/791561





Municipalities meet to establish internal cooperation

The 43 Municipalities are currently participating in the Second Congress of the national association of Municipalities, in Pemba, Cabo Delgado province, which started yesterday and will end tomorrow. They aim to improve cooperation and solidarity between them. At present, Mozambican Municipalities only cooperate with Municipalities of other countries.

http://www.jornalnoticias.co.mz/pls/notimz2/getxml/pt/contentx/791568



Members of Renamo take members of MDM hostage

Members of the Democratic Movement of Mozambique (MDM), including its Political Delegate, Fernando Gaissa, were taken hostage by former soldiers of Renamo in Buzi, Sofala province, for several hours. According to Gaissa, they were released after intervention by the Police. The Police in the district has confirmed the occurrence and promised to work in order to investigate the case.

http://www.jornalnoticias.co.mz/pls/notimz2/getxml/pt/contentx/791583





ECONOMICS AND DEVELOPMENT



Switzerland reaffirms its will to support Mozambique

The Swiss Government reaffirmed its will to support developments projects in Mozambique, despite its economy being affected by the world financial crisis. The statements were made yesterday by the Swiss Vice-President and Minister of Economy, in a press conference held in Berne, after a meeting with the Mozambican President Armando Guebuza.

http://www.jornalnoticias.co.mz/pls/notimz2/getxml/pt/contentx/791566



Rehabilitation of the road from Nampula to Cuamba will start in 2010

The works on rehabilitation of the road which links Nampula province and the city of Cuamba (Niassa province) in the Northern region, will start in the first quarter of next year. The information was given by the Minister of Public Works and Housing, Felicio Zacarias, during the 17th Meeting of the Coordinating Council of his institution. He added that a viability study for the rehabilitation of the road took place last year. It is seen as crucial for the integrated development of the Northern region.

http://www.jornalnoticias.co.mz/pls/notimz2/getxml/pt/contentx/791574



Dealing with climate change costs between US$30m and US$70m

Mozambique is currently developing a project in the area of climate change which integrates 29 partners led by the World Bank. This project will cost between US$30m and US$70m. The information was given by the Minister of Environment, Alcinda Abreu, yesterday.

http://www.jornalnoticias.co.mz/pls/notimz2/getxml/pt/contentx/791575



The dredging of the Port of Beira will start in September

Conditions are in place for the start of the emergency dredging of the Port of Beira in September. The operation will last 14 months, and the Government is negotiating with the company which won the international tender competition for the work. The Netherlands has shown its willingness to fund the programme.

http://www.jornalnoticias.co.mz/pls/notimz2/getxml/pt/contentx/791685



World financial crisis affects the timber sector

The timber sector is being affected by the world financial crisis. Since March, 13 companies were permanently closed, 63 were temporarily closed, affecting a total of 2186 employees. The information was given yesterday by the Vice-Minister of Agriculture, Catarina Pajume, during the opening of the Fourth National Meeting on Land and Forests held in Inhambane province.

http://www.jornalnoticias.co.mz/pls/notimz2/getxml/pt/contentx/791474





Chicamba constructs water system

The construction of a water supply system in Chicamba in the province of Manica begins this week. The project has a budget of 31 million euros and is financed by the Government and by the Netherlands. The system should supply water to 240,000 people, also reaching other areas such as the cities of Chimoio, Manica and Gondola as well as the towns of Bandula and Messica. The construction will take 30 months.

http://www.jornalnoticias.co.mz/pls/notimz2/getxml/pt/contentx/791587









Collaboration



CONSTANCIO NGUJA AND MICHAEL HOWARD – TRANSLATION

SANDRA MATUSSE – HUMAN RIGHTS, JUSTICE AND LEGAL AFFAIRS

DELFINA DANÇA – DEMOCRACY AND GOVERNANCE

SAITE JUNIOR – DEVELOPMENT AND CORRUPTION