News Summary , November 23, 2010

POLITICS

Former administrator Erati is detained

The former administrator Erati Agostinho Chelua, has been in jail since Friday, held at the cells of the local First Squadron of the PRM following the orders of the Provincial Office for Combating Corruption. Chelua is accused of having misused the "seven million".O País. November 23, 2010.

Comment: This detention is a good place to start regarding corruption at the Fund for Development of Local Initiatives, alias “seven million”. Only this way is it possible that the fund will have an impact and is not allowed to accommodate the political interests of the ruling party. This arrest should serve as a warning to many other administrators in the districts of the country.

Daviz announces new headquarters of the municipal districts

The Mayor of Beira, Daviz Simango, announced that the construction of new district’s headquarters will begin in the next two weeks. At a rally with local citizens, Daviz assured that in 2013 he will again seek the vote of the local population. Note: the Judicial Court of Sofala ruled against the Municipal Council concerning the ownership of the headquarters for municipal districts in Beira, passing it to the FRELIMO party. O País. November 23, 2010.


Comment: This episode between the President of the Municipal Council of Beira and FRELIMO refers to lack of familiarity with the current political context of multiparty democracy. Multiparty democracy refers to a political culture of conviviality, tolerance and dialogue. Our politicians have difficulty getting along with each other. Although the space set aside in the Beira Municipal Council was FRELIMO's, why is FRELIMO only claiming this building where Simango holds power?



Government ensures the implementation of the PES and OE 2011
The Government assured Parliamentary committees yesterday, that they have created the material conditions and human and financial resources needed for the implementation of the Economic and Social Plan (PES) and the 2011State Budget (OE). Iolanda Cintura, the Minister of Women and Social Welfare, informed the Committee on Social Affairs, Gender and Environmental Affairs, that the Executive projected for next year, to be able to assist just over nine thousand beneficiaries across the country through implementing 47 projects which will generate income and will cover an equal number of women's associations. It was also revealed there will be a program aimed at reducing the level of begging in the country; the aim is to create open centres which accommodate, feed and train the homeless in sewing crafts, basketry and carpentry, amongst others skills, to reduce their dependence on handouts.

(Http://www.jornalnoticias.co.mz/pls/notimz2/getxml/pt/contentx/1131976)



Mediation of labour disputes: justice more accessible

The 1st centre in the country for the Mediation and Arbitration of Labour Conflict was opened in the city of Beira in Sofala yesterday. The institution aims at providing affordable and speedy justice, which both the worker and the employer can use to defend their legitimate interests. According to the Minister of Labour, Helena Taipo, the Government intends to instill a new culture of justice based on the proximity to independent, impartial speedy trials, which would contribute to the consolidation of peace in our country. Indeed, a tripartite committee was formed to coordinate extra-judicial mechanisms needed for the prevention and resolution of labour disputes and the public accessing the Centres for Labour Mediation and Arbitration. (Http://www.jornalnoticias.co.mz/pls/notimz2/getxml/pt/contentx/1131940)





ECONOMICS AND DEVELOPMENT

World Bank disburses 5.3 billion Meticais in aid to Mozambique

The World Bank has allocated approximately 5.3 billion Meticais in aid to Mozambique to finance the areas of health, water supply and development programs for the city of Maputo. On Monday the Mozambican Government and World Bank signed, four loan agreements, in Maputo. These provided for the procurement of medicines and hospital supplies, improving water supply and institutional support, development of the city of Maputo and technical assistance for spatial development.(http://www.radiomocambique.com/rm/noticias/anmviewer.asp?a=6110&z=98)



Massangena corn rots due to lack of market

A considerable amount of the corn produced in Massangena district, Gaza province, southern Mozambique, is deteriorating at the hands of farmers due to failure to agree on an ideal market price for its sale. The peasants could sell their maize locally, but are currently in dispute over the price imposed by local businesses, which, they allege, does not offset their production costs. The price has been set across the district to buy a kilogram of maize at a price of six Meticais (nearly 16 cents of a U.S. dollar), an amount rejected by the peasants who only accept the proposed 10 Meticais. (Http://www.radiomocambique.com/rm/noticias/anmviewer.asp?a=6096&z=100)





PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT

Only 1% of the population of Maputo city donates blood

Only 1% of the population of Maputo city regularly donates blood, when the mimimum amount needed is at least 5%. This has caused the Blood Bank at the Hospital Central de Maputo (HCM) to run out of stocks of blood, at critical moments. To reduce these shortages mobile teams were set up to recruit donors in the street and visit churches and businesses to try and make further donations of the vital liquid. This is partly due to medium term planning in preparing for the month of December. According to traffic police, the festive season is normally the peak occurrence for traffic accidents, due to the entry of many vehicles from neighbouring countries, as well as the bustle of the “semi-collective passengers and pedestrians.” (Http://www.opais.co.mz/index.php/sociedade/45-sociedade/10897-apenas-1-da-populacao-doa-sangue-na-cidade-de-maputo.html)





HUMAN RIGHTS AND LEGAL AFFAIRS

LDH denounces Guebuza's Government at the African Commission on Human Rights

The LDH (Human Rights League) has stated the Mozambican government, through the police, responded with brutal violence and showing no respect for human rights “during the recent protests against the rising cost of living, which took place in Maputo and Matola, last September”. This statement was made in the Senegalese capital, Dakar, where the 48th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human Rights is taking place. The LDH did not stop there, accusing the government of Guebuza of additionally limiting the right to information by ordering mobile phone operators to block the SMS service, jeopardizing the population’s health through not protecting the environment, and arresting those who want to demonstrate against government policies.

(Http://www.canalmoz.com/default.jsp?file=ver_artigo&nivel=1&id=6&idRec=9130)



Criminals disguised as police operating in Chimoio

There is currently a state of chaos in the city of Chimoio. Criminals have obtained uniforms identical to the Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM) and are patrolling in the city, posing as official Police officers. The criminals have then been stealing cars and assaulting people. The PRM has called on citizens to maintain their vigilance against these "criminals". "The existence of criminals masquerading as police has resulted in a sharp rise of criminal cases in this city," reported the PRM spokesperson, Belmiro Mutandiua, in a statement to the press warning about the existence of these "bandits." According Mutandiua, "the criminals are stealing goods from homes, streets and businesses, where they first falsely identify themselves as men of law and order." (Http://www.canalmoz.com/default.jsp?file=ver_artigo&nivel=1&id=6&idRec=9128)



Fragility of the coastal border control facilitates criminal activities - admits Deputy Interior Minister Jose Mandra

The Deputy Interior Minister Jose Mandra believes the length of Mozambique’s maritime borders has resulted in it becoming the premier choice for networks of criminals who have been facilitating the illegal entry of people into the country. Speaking last Sunday in Cabo Delgado, at the beginning of his working visit to the province, Mandra said that two years ago police had begun taking action along the land border, positioning more men to guard the borders. Following these steps, criminals had a much smaller area of operation. Recently alternative routes had been opened specifically via the sea where, boats of varying sizes, "help" illegal immigrants reach Mozambique. (Http://www.radiomocambique.com/rm/noticias/anmviewer.asp?a=6100&z=100)