Counting the cost of tropical storm Freddy

A cyclone didn't materialise, but serious damage was nevertheless wrought

Good afternoon. Compared with the expectations of a cyclone, tropical storm Freddy was a mercifully damp squib — albeit a very damp one. The rains it brought have caused serious flooding and could yet bring more, as rains continue upstream of Mozambique.

And in Inhambane and Sofala province, the storm certainly made itself felt, with roofs blown off houses, schools, and health centres. Tens of thousands of people are without power.

Work is now underway to replace bridges, electricity poles, to clear trees, and for people to rebuild and repair their houses. If this was it for this cyclone season, then Mozambique has got off relatively lightly. Let’s hope.

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Agenda:

• Today: IX Business Environment Monitoring Council, within the framework of the Public-Private Dialogue organised between the CTA business association and the government.

• Today: A group of entrepreneurs from the Association for Economic and Cultural Promotion between Foshan and Macau starts a prospecting visit to Mozambique until 6 March 2023.

  • B2B meeting between Chamber of Commerce of Mozambique (CCM), Mozambique’s Investment and Export Promotion Agency and Macau entrepreneurs at CCM headquarters in Maputo

• Tomorrow: Council of Ministers to consider new Labour Law

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The latest from Zitamar News:

Rio Tinto sand mine project prepares resettlement plan in Inhambane
Mining company Mutamba Mineral Sands, owned by global mining giant Rio Tinto, is preparing a resettlement plan its heavy sands exploration project in Inhambane province, southern Mozambique

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Also in the news:

• Vietnamese woman jailed for 16 years in Maputo for wildlife trafficking 

• Tropical Storm Freddy leaves a trail of destruction

• Rwanda ratifies Mozambique extradition agreement 

• Transporters may resume trips to South Africa this week

Today’s front pages in Maputo. Photo © Faizal Chauque / Zitamar News