News Summary, October 28, 2010

News Summary, October 28, 2010



POLITICS

Malawi says Mozambique broke an agreement for "experimental navigation"

The High Commissioner of Malawi in Mozambique, Martin Kansichi, yesterday, expressed his indignation on behalf of the Malawian Government regarding how the Mozambican government has been managing issues concerning navigability on the Zambezi and Shire rivers. Kansichi accused the Mozambican government of having broken an agreement signed between the two countries, according to which Malawi would be able to hold a trial trip to test navigability on the Zambezi and Chire rivers as far as Nsanje. In addition to the Mozambican government’s alleged breach of the agreement, the Malawian ambassador also expressed his concern about the statements by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Oldemiro Baloi, made in Maputo on Tuesday. Regarding this issue, the ambassador said "there are documents proving there is an agreement which provides for a trial trip. Malawi is a country that respects the procedures. By this I mean that the statements made that Malawi has not followed correct procedures are not true. Those are, probably, a provocation. This process began in January and I think Malawi was patient enough; following all necessary procedures and statements," said the visibly annoyed official.

(O Pais. 28th October, 2010)



Government closes the Housing Development Fund

The Government has decided to abolish the Housing Development Fund (FFH), due to the its ineffectiveness . This decision was announced on Tuesday by the spokesperson for the Council of Ministers, Alberto Nkutumula, after the public body’s 38th session. The FFH was created in 1995 with a mandate to finance the development of housing areas in the country. However over time, it has shown itself to be unable to fulfill the purpose for which it was created. However, according to a spokesperson for the Council of Ministers, the Minister of Public Works will now be responsible for approving the structure of a new institution, which could be created to replace the defunct FFH.(www.canalmoz.com/default.jsp?file=ver_artigo&nivel=1&id=6&idRec=8972)



Rights of disabled people gather consensus in Parliament

The Mozambican Parliament yesterday approved, in general, resolutions, which respectively, ratify two Human Rights instruments: an International Convention and a protocol, both concerning the rights of disabled persons. In a somewhat rare gesture, the three benches of the Assembly of the Republic (AR) welcomed the resolutions and adopted the measures by consensus and acclamation, thus opening the way for their adoption throughout Mozambique. The Rights of Disabled People were also approved through a consensus of all 192 member states of the United Nations, in December 13, 2006. Yesterday’s Parliamentary session focused upon the various social concerns and benefits of the legal instrument. However, the Members recommend the Government should compile statistical data on disabled persons in Mozambique, so that everyone could be included in the policies and programs implementation.(O Pais. 28th October, 2010)



PR in Beira to address the local governments

President Armando Guebuza will be in Beira this morning to attend the opening session of the 1st National Meeting of Local Government, which opens with the theme "Decentralisation: Promoting Citizenship, Good Governance and the Fight Against Poverty". Amongst other issues there will be discussions on standardizing the actions of governance over the five-year period 2010 – 2014, primarily through a consolidation of decentralization and increased citizen participation in fighting poverty. It is also expected that guidelines will be proposed concerning governance including focusing on citizen participation in the fight against absolute poverty. There is also expected to be a presentation of the main instruments of governance. (Noticias. 28th October, 2010 - http://www.jornalnoticias.co.mz/pls/notimz2/getxml/pt/contentx/1116458)



ECONOMICS AND DEVELOPMENT

“Banco Espirito Santo” signs an agreement to buy 25.1% of MOZABANCO
An agreement for “Banco Espirito Santo” to purchase 25.1 percent of MOZABANCO was signed in Lisbon on Tuesday, reports the Portuguese financial institution. This deal represents a total investment of 7.1 million Euros for “Banco Espirito Santo”. 0.6 percent of the 25.1 percent is being sold by “Moçambique Capitais”, and the remaining amount by the investment company “Geocapital”. Following the agreement’s signing, “Banco Espirito Santo” will now underwrite a capital increase for MOZABANCO, raising its total investment to 8.1 million Euros.(Http://www.macauhub.com/pt/news.php?id=10378)



Entrepreneurs invest in promoting livestock in Inhambane

Approximately 50 million dollars will be invested in improving the species of cattle farmed by the smallholder sector in Inhambane province, as part of a meat production project. In order to implement this project aimed at promoting livestock about three thousand head of cattle breeds, particularly the Brahman, which is known for its high reproductive capacity have been introduced in the province. This could rise to more than 9000 over the next five years. Under the same project foreign investment in Inhambane should develop a meat processing unit, which will be supplied by the new species being introduced. It is hoped this project will lead to economic sustainability which will encourage the families to become more heavily in selling meat. (Http://www.macauhub.com/pt/news.php?ID=10382)



PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT

MOZAL ignores environmentalist’s opposition and announces the "bypass" will start next Monday
The decision is reversible! MOZAL has said it will begin gas emissions without filters. With this decision, MOZAL will be directly discharging all of its smoke and dust, which results from its industrial activity, into the atmosphere. This will commence on November 1, and is a process known technically as a "by-pass". Yesterday, the multinational held a press conference to announce through, that the renovation of their Smoke Treatment Centres (CTF) will begin on November 1, Monday, and will last approximately 140 days. The Chairperson of MOZAL, Mike Fraser, has reiterated that during the "bypass" there will be no damage to the environment, much less to public health, as the emissions will be within required "standards" established by World Health Organization.(O Pais. 28th October, 2010)



Nhamatanda has new health training centre

The opening ceremony of a Training Centre for Health in Nhamatanda, Sofala Province, will take place tomorrow (Friday 29\10\10). The development has been valued at about US$12M and is the result of health sector assistance agreements between the Government of Japan and Mozambique. Funding has been provided for the development of a series of health sector projects in the country and they envisage the construction of laboratories, classrooms and dormitories at five institutes, including the provision of equipment at national institutes. Funds will also cover the expenses in preparing a general survey of improvements at of 12 existing institutes aimed at increasing the number of trainees and quality of technical vocational education.(Noticias. 28th October, 2010 - http://www.jornalnoticias.co.mz/pls/notimz2/getxml/pt/contentx/1116462)



Nampula renovates its water system

Nampula City will shortly begin rebuilding and improving its water supply system, in a project funded by the Government, using funds provided by the “Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)”, of the United States of America. In the same context, the company Burniside/Austral held in the city of Nampula, yesterday, a public presentation concerning the project, as part of the pre-feasibility study and assessment of environmental impact. The project will include the construction of new water sources, create pipelines, three new pumping stations, reservoirs with a capacity of one thousand meters, renovate large deposits in the neighbourhoods of Muahivire, Muhala, Namutequelíua and Marere, extend the networks for distribution and provide mechanisms of the detection and control of water losses, amongst other work.(Noticias. 28th October 2010 - http://www.jornalnoticias.co.mz/pls/notimz2/getxml/pt/contentx/1116459)



HUMAN RIGHTS AND LEGAL AFFAIRS

“Tete, Manica and Maputo are the main centres of human trafficking in the country” - reveals NGO, Save the Children

A study by the NGO "Save the Children” has concluded that the provinces of Tete, Manica and Maputo are the main centres for trafficking and the exploitation of children and women in Mozambique. This research was conducted between September 2007 and October 2008, in the provinces of Maputo, Gaza, Manica, Sofala, Tete, Zambezia and Maputo city. The study refers to persons being trafficked internally. According to the survey, during the time period, of the 114 cases identified only 40 cases were solved and the processes are now currently with the public prosecutor for criminal responsibilities and facing subsequent trials. (Http://www.canalmoz.com/default.jsp?file=ver_artigo&nivel=1&id=6&idRec=8971)