Mozambique, 12 July 2017: IMF showdown
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It could be a crucial week for Mozambique, with the IMF in town for its showdown with the government over whether, how and when it might turn the money tap back on.
But, as Anne Frühauf of political risk analyst Teneo Intelligence writes exclusively for Zitamar News today, the path to a new funding programme is anything but clear given what she describes as the “gaping holes” in the Kroll report into the hidden debt scandal.
There is of course every chance that the IMF does want to restart funding. However, both it and the other international donors who went missing when the loan scandal blew up will need a good deal of reassurance before they loosen the purse strings again.
FREE TO READ: Gaping holes in Kroll report complicate IMF-Mozambique talks
Elsewhere, there could be a row brewing between Mozambique’s national migration service and the tourist industry after the former stood by its decision to clamp down on issuing border visas, citing security issues and – perhaps more curiously - the need to create jobs for embassy staff.
FREE TO READ: Mozambique border guards accused of ‘sabotaging’ tourism sector
A highly critical report into a major plantation project in Manica has called the ‘jobs for land’ deal struck by owner Portucel “disadvantageous” to the local community.
SEE: Mozambique wood pulp project ‘disadvantageous’ to locals, say NGOs
Eyewitnesses reported hearing shots fired as riot police attempted to break up a disturbance that closed the EN1 in Macia, Gaza province, on Monday. The riot started when police tried to remove road side barracas
FREE TO READ: Shots heard as rioters close main highway in southern Mozambique
Could Mozambique’s gas windfall be prey to Middle East political brinksmanship? We look at whether Qatar’s increase in LNG production could spell trouble in east Africa.
ANALYSIS: Could Qatar’s expansion derail Mozambique LNG?
And finally, Mozambique’s biggest coal producer, Vale, has had a boardroom shake-up.
SEE: New head of coal in Vale board reshuffle
Have a great rest of the week.