Mozambique 31 March 17: First petrol, now bread
Good afternoon. The audit report that everyone is waiting for, into the ProIndicus, EMATUM, and MAM deals, is going to make us wait 3 months longer, according to the Swedish ambassador, speaking to weekly newspaper Savana today.
SEE: Mozambique debt audit to stay secret for 90 days after completion – report
The reason, she says, is that Mozambique’s Attorney General’s office needs 90 days to begin any legal proceedings that it sees fit - and which could be jeopardised by the publication of Kroll’s findings.
The latest knock-on effect of the economic crisis precipitated by the debt scandal is today’s complete withdrawal of flour subsidies and liberalisation of the price of bread, which follows on from a petrol price rise last week. The last time Maputo’s citizens rioted, it was triggered by rises in the price of minibus fares and bread - so protests in the future would not be a surprise.
SEE: Mozambique withdraws flour subsidies and liberalises bread prices
A court in Malawi this week found 23 Mozambicans guilty of illegal logging in a national park, with sentencing due next week. The verdict came two days after Mozambique’s state news agency AIM reported they were arrested by Malawian authorities inside Mozambique - a claim which appears to fly in the face of the court evidence.
FREE TO READ: Chinese-Mozambican enterprise found guilty of illegal logging in Malawi
Mozambique’s authorities acted late but severely against Brazilian meat imports - banning all imports of chicken from anywhere in the world, as well as all Brazilian meat imports. The Brazilian ambassador is not happy.
SEE: Mozambique bans all chicken imports in wake of Brazil meat scandal
And finally, London-listed Ncondezi Energy, which has agreed a deal to bring Shanghai Electric Power into its 300 MW coal-fired power project in Tete, is looking for funds to keep going while it waits for the green light from government.
SEE: Ncondezi seeks funding to keep Tete coal project running
Have a great weekend.