What happens in Frelimo, stays in Frelimo
What happens in Frelimo, stays in Frelimo
Plus: The port of Mocímboa da Praia receives its first commercial cargo ship since 2020
Good afternoon. Manuel Chang is in the news today — but not because of the ‘hidden debts’. This time, he’s being accused of corruption in relation to two projects awarded to Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht when he was finance minister.
The timing is interesting, to say the least. Tomorrow, judge Efigenio Baptista is due to start his marathon reading of the verdicts in the hidden debts trial, expected to last five days. Chang is not a suspect in that trial, but only because he is still being held by South Africa.
The Brazilian cases may be coming to light now because Mozambique has got new information from Brazil; that may be connected to the change in government there, though the returning President Lula is unlikely to be rushing to incriminate himself or his successor, Dilma Rousseff, if the outgoing Jair Bolsonaro did not.
Perhaps a stronger theory is that Mozambique wants to provide more ammunition to persuade South Africa that it really will put Chang on trial if he returns to Mozambique. At least some of the indecision in South Africa has been around the question of whether Chang is immune from prosecution. The new accusations don’t really clarify that, but could be seen as further evidence that he is not.
It’s tempting to say only time will tell; but honestly, even time may not. If Chang does go to the US, this case may never go any further — and we’ll never know what would’ve happened had Chang been extradited back home. As Mozambique-watchers know all too well, what happens in Frelimo, stays in Frelimo. Though we do our best to shine a light.
Agenda:
Tomorrow: Maputo court begins reading the verdict in the Mozambican ‘hidden debts’ trial, expected to take five days
Tomorrow: South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo arrives in Mozambique for a two-day visit to discuss expanding cooperation
From the Zitamar Live Blog:
Also in the news / Today’s headlines:
Manuel Chang accused of corruption in Odebrecht contract awards
Pathfinder Minerals tries to block transfer of mining concessions to Chinese company
Renewable energy to hit 575MW installed capacity by 2030
Government unsure if it will pay ‘13th month’ bonus this year
Government to take out insurance against heavy wind and rains
Flooding in Zambezi basin may affect 300,000, mapping study finds
Frelimo seeks to ‘strengthen ties’ with Notícias newspapers
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