Indian customs say Mozambican soy 'mis-declared'

Plus: Nyusi says third term is 'not a question for now'

Good afternoon. Thousands of Mozambicans are out of work, and thousands more small-scale farmers cannot sell their produce, as major commodity trader ETG is still locked out of its operations in Mozambique — more than a month after a judge accepted the argument of another commodity trader, Royal Group, that ETG had caused its shipment of pigeon peas and soybeans to be seized by customs in India.

ETG has consistently argued that it cannot be held responsible for the decision of the Indian authorities, and today Zitamar published on our Telegram channel a document showing that India’s customs authorities found the cargo was “mis-declared” as non-genetically modified.

According to an article in today’s edition of Savana, the seizure of ETG’s assets in Mozambique remains in force, with tonnes of agricultural produce feared to be spoiled. Ships with sesame destined for Europe have not been allowed to sail; and a shipment of food from the World Food Programme destined for displaced people in Cabo Delgado was also held up.

The authorities in Nampula province have, behind the scenes, been asking ETG to somehow convince the Indian authorities to rescind their decision — something ETG is surely not in a position to do. Meanwhile, losses are mounting — particularly on small-scale farmers who can ill afford to lose access to these markets.

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Agenda:

• Today: President Nyusi kicks off a three-day visit to Tete province, where he will inaugurate two off-grid solar power projects, and attend a gala commemorating the 15th anniversary of Mozambique buying back the Cahora Bassa hydropower plant from Portugal

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From the Zitamar Live Blog:

Zitamar has obtained a copy of the Seizure Memo issued by customs authorities in Mumbai, India, on 4 October 2022, for the cargo of soybeans imported by Mozambican company Royal Group Lda. The document says the “item declared as ‘Mozambique Origin Soybean’ [is] mis-declared”.

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Also in the news:

• Nyusi ducks ‘third term’ question, insists Mozambique must go for gas

• Olinda communities complain of bad resettlement conditions

• Mozambique approves new legal package for off-grid energy systems

• Malaria cases up 20%; deaths down 15%

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