Zitamar Daily: Renamo calls for finance minister to quit

Max Tonela is targeted for his implementation of the new government payscale, but also his loyalty to Nyusi

Good afternoon. A commercial dispute centred on the port of Nacala has put thousands of jobs at risk, along with the operations of one of Mozambique’s biggest agricultural commodity traders — on which many thousands more farmers depend to buy their crops.

On 19 October, a judge in Nampula ordered a complete freeze on the Mozambican assets of ETG Group, after another commodity trading group, Royal Plastics, accused it of falsely informing Indian customs authorities that it was trying to import genetically modified soya to India.

Almost two weeks on, the injunction remains in place despite Royal Plastics Group having failed to provide any evidence of ETG’s guilt at a court hearing last Friday. Meanwhile, ETG’s mountains of pigeon peas and other crops bought from Mozambican farmers are rotting at its facilities in Nacala and Beira — and ships are sitting in the Port of Nacala, clogging up the whole port.

Royal Group says that due to ETG’s foreign ownership — it is incorporated in the UAE although its owners are from Tanzania — it cannot be trusted to abscond without paying up to $60 million in damages that Royal is demanding. Royal has dropped its demand for an injunction against three other groups whom it initially accused alongside ETG.

Zitamar will continue following the saga, which is already having seriously damaging effects on the economy in northern Mozambique.

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Agenda:

• Today: European Commission vice president for democracy and demography, Croatia’s Dubravka Šuica, signs six financing agreements with Mozambique, at the foreign ministry in Maputo, 13:00

• Today: EU-African, Caribbean, Pacific States Joint Parliamentary Assembly (EU-ACP JPA) meeting in Maputo, opened by President Nyusi. Runs to Wednesday

• Tomorrow: Start of the new duty paid ‘seals’ regime on alcoholic drinks. Any new alcoholic drinks coming to the market in Mozambique must have the paper seals on them, starting 1 November

  • This measure has been fiercely opposed by beer producers who say it places insupportable extra costs on their operations. It is going ahead anyway

• Weds-Fri: Bank of Mozambique’s annual Consultative Council, this year taking place in Beira under the title Challenges and opportunities of the sugar industry in Mozambique: the case of Sofala province

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💥 Conflict updates:

28 October 2022: Liche, Nangade district, Cabo Delgado

Insurgents attacked Liche village for the second time in two days. Previously, they destroyed over 200 homes. In their latest attack they clashed with Local Forces and decapitated one villager found hiding in the bush, one local source claims. This attack appears to be revenge for heavy losses suffered by insurgents after an ambush prepared by the Local Forces.
Source: Cabo Ligado intelligence

29 October 2022: Murameia, Namuno district, Cabo Delgado

Insurgents launched their first ever attack on Namuno district on Saturday afternoon, striking the village of Murameia where they killed at least two people, injured several more and destroyed some vehicles and buildings.
Source: Cabo Ligado intelligence

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Also in the news:

• Renamo demands finance minister quit over new salary scale controversy (VOA)

• Authorities dismantle fake iPhone factory in Maputo (O País, Notícias)

• Mozambique and Qatar airlines consider strategic partnership (Notícias)

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