NEWS SUMMARY. 23RD JUNE, 2009.

DEMOCRACY, GOVERNANCE AND CORRUPTION

Joaquim Chissano chosen as Mediator for Madagascar

The former President Joaquim Chissano was named by SADC to lead and coordinate the dialogue aiming to resolve the political crisis in Madagascar. Chissano was named on Saturday, at the Extraordinary Meeting of Heads of State and Government of SADC countries, held in South Africa with the aim of analysing the political and security situation in Madagascar.

http://www.opais.co.mz/opais/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1771:joaquim-chissano-nomeado-mediador-para-madagascar&catid=63:politica&Itemid=273





Renamo boycotts Parliament

Renamo boycotted the report of the President on the state of the nation, alleging that Armando Guebuza gives priority to his party interests ahead of national interests.

President Guebuza addressed the nation yesterday in Parliament. It was his fifth and last report of this term as President. Guebuza will run for a new term in the elections on 28th October.

http://www.opais.co.mz/opais/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1770:renamo-boicota-parlamento&catid=63:politica&Itemid=273



Reforms of the UEM interest Pretoria

The University of Pretoria in South Africa is interested in the reforms to the curriculum at Universidade Eduardo Mondlane (UEM), and a group of 20 people from there is currently visiting Mozambique to find out more. UEM was recently congratulated by its counterparts in the African Union for its academic reforms.

http://www.jornalnoticias.co.mz/pls/notimz2/getxml/pt/contentx/800012


ECONOMICS AND DEVELOPMENT
Experts discuss food prices
Mozambique holds today and tomorrow the Regional Conference on Fluctuation of Food Prices, organized by FAO. The event is part of a global project funded by the British Department for International Development (DFID) and FAO and aims to build the capacity of Governments at the technical and institutional level and allow experience sharing on how to deal with the fluctuation of world food prices.

http://www.jornalnoticias.co.mz/pls/notimz2/getxml/pt/contentx/800017)

Millenium BIM expands in Tete

According to the President of the Executive Council of the International Bank of Mozambique (BIM), the institution will expand in Tete to the districts of Macanga and Angonia to provide services to local agricultural producers.

http://www.jornalnoticias.co.mz/pls/notimz2/getxml/pt/contentx/800018)



Sabotage to the Nampula – Nacala energy line

Unknown individuals are sabotaging the high-voltage energy line from Nampula to Nacala in order to steal metals. This has been happening for 2 months and if it continues it will lead to the interruption of the energy supply in the area, paralyzing industrial projects.

(Jornal da Manhã – Radio Mozambique. 23rd June, 2009)



First Anti-retrovirals made in mozambique will be sold in December

According to the Ambassador of Brazil, Antonio Silva, the first anti-retrovirals made in Mozambique will be sold in December. Currently, the Mozambican technicians are being trained and the equipment is being acquired for the factory, which will produce three kinds of anti-retrovirals. (http://www.rm.co.mz/NoticiasArquivo/21Junho/Mocambiqueprimeirosantiretroviraisproduzidosnopaisnomercadoemdezembro.html)



HUMAN RIGHTS, JUSTICE AND LEGAL AFFAIRS

Hashish in Chongoene

According to the spokesperson of the Police in Chongoene (Gaza province), Benedito Ndeve, around a ton of hashish was seized on Friday. The owners and the origin of the product are still unknown.

http://www.jornalnoticias.co.mz/pls/notimz2/getxml/pt/contentx/800010

Five people arrested for sabotaging Sena line

Five people have been arrested in the district of Marromeu, in the central Mozambican province of Sofala, accused of sabotaging a stretch of the Sena railway line.

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/solutions1/sectionnews.php?secao=mozambique&id=15452&tipo=one



The Central Prison is overpopulated

The Central Prison was built for 800 prisoners, but currently it has 2,117 inmates. 834 are waiting for trial and the others are serving their sentences. The situation confirms international reports stating that prisons are overpopulated in the country. According to the Director of the Central Prison, Castigo Silvestre Machaieie, it has not been easy to deal with the overpopulation, but they are trying to manage the situation.

(O Pais, 23rd June, 2009).