Maputo, 10 April (AIM) – Mozambican authorities arrested three individuals for alleged possession of more than two thousand weapons of various types, in the city of Beira, in the center of the country.

Among those detained are three members of the Defense and Security Forces (FDS) and a Chinese individual. The soldiers intended to sell the obsolete weapons to an iron foundry owned by the Chinese national.

According to Martinho Mucheguerre, spokesman for the Sofala Provincial Court, cited by the independent daily “O País”, the military violated military regulations that determine that obsolete weapons must be destroyed.

“We can confirm that the process was effectively initiated in this court,” he said. “Three soldiers went to the iron foundry in a vehicle belonging to the Armed Forces of Mozambique, together with a Chinese citizen, supposedly the owner of the factory, who was going to receive this obsolete military equipment”.

As it is circumstantial evidence, the process was submitted for legalization, and the defendants, currently detained at the Beira Central Prison, have already been subjected to the first interrogation.
(AIM)
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Maputo, 10 Apr (AIM) – The Mozambican Ombudsman, Isaque Chande, called for greater dialogue between State bodies and companies to remove obstacles that hinder productive activity, such as bureaucracy, delays in issuing licenses and corruption.

According to the ombudsman, who spoke on Thursday, in Maputo, on the sidelines of the Business Breakfast promoted by the country’s Confederation of Business Associations (CTA), there are several complaints from companies related to difficulties in communicating with the public administration, including delays in paying State debts and undue charges.

“We have already received requests for intervention from companies because the State has had debts with us for more than two or three years. We have also spoken to institutions involved in collecting tax debts, situations that ended up being resolved,” said Chande.

“We also intervened to resolve delays in decision-making or issuing licenses. There were cases that dragged on for more than two years, but ended up being resolved after our intervention,” he said.

The Ombudsman highlighted that his institution has worked to boost “an efficient and transparent public administration, promoting greater dialogue between the State and citizens, including the business sector”.

“Our role is to contribute to a more effective, more efficient and less corrupt public administration. We don’t have two States, we have one State with different institutions. We have to find measures that make life easier for businesspeople”, he stated.

For his part, Onório Manuel, vice-president of the CTA, said that among the main constraints faced by the private sector are the difficulty in accessing foreign currency, the delay in refunding Value Added Tax (VAT) and excessive bureaucracy in public administration.

“The business sector in Mozambique has a significant amount of VAT that it has not been able to recover for many years. Even though it is not a direct cost, slow reimbursement ends up becoming a cost for companies”, he explained.

Manuel added that the lack of foreign currency also constitutes an obstacle to economic activity, as it prevents the import of raw materials and equipment necessary for production.

“As long as we don’t have currency to import intermediate goods and capital goods, we won’t be able to produce. We want the business environment to be like a highway, without speed bumps or potholes,” he declared.
(AIM)
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Maputo, 09 Apr (AIM) – The Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy of Mozambique warned that fuel prices in the domestic market could rise in the near future, given the sharp increase in the costs of importing refined fuels, largely due to the US/Israeli aggression against Iran.

According to the National Director of Hydrocarbons and Fuels, Felisbela Nhate, in statements to journalists, in the presence of fuel importers and distributors, the country is facing a “shock” in the prices of petroleum products, with a direct impact on the import bill and, consequently, on the national economy.

He explained that the total cost of fuel imports in April was approximately 230 million US dollars, more than 80 million dollars more than in March.

“We are registering a very significant increase in the fuel import bill,” said Nhate.

The import price of gasoline rose from around US$700 per ton between January and February to US$1,037 in April. In the case of diesel, the price rise was even more pronounced, jumping from 730 to 1,480 dollars per ton in the same period.

“Diesel is the fuel used in logistics and transport and has a multiplier effect on all other sectors”, he stated. “This increase will create strong pressure on domestic prices.”

Given this scenario, the Government admits the possibility of increasing national fuel prices.

“We are already carrying out an exercise that will naturally culminate in the need to make some adjustments, but always accompanied by measures to mitigate the impacts that the Government will have to apply,” said Nhate.

She explained that Mozambique is far from isolated, as several other countries in Southern Africa have already increased fuel prices, including Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania and South Africa.

Despite the adverse context, the Government assured that it is preparing mitigation measures to reduce the impact on consumers and the economy.

Nhate appealed to the population for calm, as “any adjustment still requires analysis by the government and the regulator, with a view to protecting the end consumer”.

“There is no need to panic, we are simply raising public awareness of what is happening. Mozambique, as an importer, is inevitably exposed to fluctuations in the international market,” he stated.
(AIM)
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Maputo, 10 Apr (AIM) – Felisbela Nhate, National Director of Hydrocarbons and Fuels of Mozambique, warned that the cost of air transport could increase in the near future, following the sharp rise in the price of jet fuel on the international market.

According to Nhate, speaking to journalists on Thursday in Maputo, in the presence of fuel importers and distributors, jet fuel registered one of the biggest recent variations, rising from around 769 to 1,595 dollars per ton.

She explained that the worsening of prices is largely associated with geopolitical instability in the Middle East, one of the main fuel supplying regions.

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) also warned that Mozambique is among the countries likely to be hit by rising costs due to the US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran.

The Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, is the transport route for around 20% of the oil traded worldwide and a significant part of the liquefied natural gas transported by sea. It had been terminated by Iran, ahead of an unstable ceasefire that was supposed to cover a two-week period while negotiations were ongoing.

This scenario, she said, could directly impact the operating costs of airlines and, consequently, the fares charged to passengers.

“The worsening political context in the Middle East had a direct impact not only on the price of the product itself, but also on shipping costs,” said Nhate.

According to Nhate, the cost of transporting a barrel of oil went from around five dollars in January to around 13.7 dollars, which directly influences the CIF Maputo price, which is the basis of the fuel import bill.

“The shipping cost is included in the CIF calculation equation, which is the price reflected in our import invoice”, he explains.

Jet fuel plays an essential role in the aviation sector, being used in commercial and cargo aircraft, and its pricing structure depends on several factors, including the international cost of refined petroleum products, transport and logistics expenses, exchange rates, storage costs, operator margins and tax burdens.

In Mozambique, the fuel pricing mechanism is regulated by a specific legal framework, aiming to guarantee transparency and market balance, with the Energy Regulatory Authority (ARENE) being the body responsible for defining and updating prices.

Given the current context, Nhate admitted the possibility of regulatory intervention. “We have pressure on our pricing mechanism and some need for government intervention to mitigate impacts,” she said.

The director also warned of the risks associated with the increase in import bills, including reduced distributor liquidity, restrictions on access to bank financing and potential challenges in the regular supply of fuel to the country.

At a regional level, several Southern African countries have already adjusted fuel prices, reflecting the widespread impact of the international crisis.

Faced with this scenario, the Mozambican authorities guarantee that they are evaluating measures to mitigate the economic effects without compromising the stability of the sector.
(AIM)
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Maputo, 09 Apr (AIM) – Mozambique’s parliament, the Assembly of the Republic, approved on Wednesday a new Tobacco Law, which aims to reduce tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke.

The approval of the law complements the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), adopted in 2003 and in force since February 2005.

The instrument is a response to the global tobacco epidemic and establishes strict control measures, aiming to protect present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to secondhand smoke.

According to the Minister of Justice, Mateus Saíze, speaking during the presentation of the bill in the Assembly, lung and mouth cancer, congenital malformations, premature births and sudden infant death syndrome are among the harmful effects of tobacco consumption.

According to Saíze, tobacco consumption imposes a substantial economic burden. as the country annually records around 11.7 billion meticais (172.3 million US dollars at the current exchange rate) in direct and indirect economic losses, corresponding to 1.3 percent of Mozambique’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Annual economic losses include 900 million meticais in health-related expenses and 10.8 billion meticais in indirect losses due to premature deaths, illnesses and smoking during working hours.

The prevalence of smoking in Mozambique increases with age, rising from 2.8 percent among those aged between 15 and 24 years to 16.1 percent among those aged between 45 and 64 years.

“A reduction in forms of tobacco use among young adults could lead to a shift to the use of smokeless tobacco. However, studies indicate that smokeless tobacco carries health risks equal to, and in some cases greater than, those of smoked tobacco, including cancer of the mouth, tongue, esophagus and pancreas, as well as gum disease, tooth wear, increased blood pressure and a greater risk of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases,” the document states.

The minister also said that a 64 percent reduction in the prevalence of tobacco consumption over 15 years could help save 53,400 lives, around 3,600 annually. In economic terms, it could avoid 35 percent of the expected losses from tobacco consumption over the next 15 years.
(AIM)
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Maputo, 9 Apr (AIM) – Mozambique’s Minister of Agriculture, Roberto Albino, challenged the country’s safari operators to attract young people to the wildlife economy and its value chain.

According to the minister, who was speaking on Wednesday, in Maputo, at a Conference on Wildlife Economy, the low involvement of young people means that their economic potential is being underutilized.

“If the involvement of safari agents remains remote, it is a sign that the sector is not being sufficiently used, which shows that it has not yet managed to capture the necessary interest, especially from young people”, he said.

To reverse the situation, the minister called on safari operators to reinforce young people’s technical skills.

“It is essential to create space for conservation to translate into effective development, with visible benefits for all stakeholders, from park managers to local communities”, he warned.

In turn, Carlos Santos, president of the NGO Biofund, stated “There are clear signs that wildlife already has an important importance, but it can contribute much more to the national economy. We need a results-oriented debate capable of aligning conservation with economic development”.

The head of the country’s Safari Operators Association, Adamo Valy, considered the meeting an opportunity to redefine the direction of the sector through the analysis of successful models in the region.

“The role of operators in remote areas, where they often provide direct support to communities, is important because it paves the way for greater institutional coordination to make the sector more competitive and sustainable,” he said.
(AIM)
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Maputo, 9 Apr (AIM) – Mozambican President Daniel Chapo presented to the Mozambican parliament, the Assembly of the Republic, a bill that will eliminate an entire level of governance, eliminating mountains of bureaucracy and making substantial savings.

With the stroke of a pen, Chapo undid the 2018 constitutional changes that introduced a cumbersome system of local authorities in the name of decentralization.

This complex system had two overlapping layers of provincial power. Alongside the provincial government, headed by an elected provincial governor, and known as “decentralized provincial governance”, there were “state representation bodies in the province”, known as the “State Representation Council”, introduced because supposedly there are state functions that cannot be ensured by the provincial governor.

This was bitterly contested from the beginning. Both within and outside the ruling Frelimo Party, complaints were raised that state representative bodies were unnecessary, merely duplicating the work of provincial governors. It was said that unelected bodies were undermining elected provincial governors.

Opposition parties argued that the dual system was a way for Frelimo to cling to power in the provinces if opposition members were elected provincial governors.

But the mayors elected by Frelimo also saw no reason to hand over power to the State Representation Councils. One of the first voices to be raised against the useless duplication of bodies was that of Eneas Comiche, then Mayor of Maputo, and an important figure in Frelimo.

Chapo said that the elimination of State representative bodies in the provinces will save 1,250 million meticais (about 20 million dollars) from the State Budget every year.

He asked the Assembly to insert his bill on the agenda of the current session as a matter of urgency, and there are no signs that Frelimo deputies will oppose this request.

The bill means that the jobs of dozens of employees will be cut from the budget, and it is not yet clear how – or even if – they will be compensated.

Chapo said his bill also fulfills a promise he made in his inaugural address in January 2025 to restructure provincial state bodies.
(AIM)
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Chimoio (Mozambique), 9 April (AIM) – Mozambican authorities have suspended eight health professionals from the central province of Manica for alleged negligence that resulted in the death of a patient and her baby during childbirth.

The tragedy occurred at the Hospital in the provincial capital, Chimoio (HPC). The professionals in question were on duty in the maternity ward of that health unit last Sunday.

According to Saulo Dimas, husband of the deceased woman, in a letter addressed to Mozambican President Daniel Chapo, the
health professionals were negligent in ignoring signs of worsening of the patient’s clinical condition.

“During labor, my wife was weak and my mother-in-law suggested that she be taken to the operating room for a cesarean section. But the nurses on duty said that would be a treat, until she couldn’t resist and lost her life along with the baby,” said Dimas. “I appeal to the President to send an investigation team to that hospital, because there are reports of other cases of negligence that culminated in deaths.”

Following the complaint, HPC management immediately suspended the entire team on duty, in order to ensure an impartial investigation.

According to HPD director Marília Pugas, speaking to journalists this Wednesday, an investigation is underway to determine the real causes of the incident.

“This is work that we are carrying out in coordination with the Public Ministry and the National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC). An autopsy was carried out and the results were sent to the competent authorities for further procedures”, he said.

Pugas acknowledged the existence of allegations of negligence at the hospital. She alleged this whenever such complaints are received. “We investigate and, if confirmed, we act according to the seriousness of the infractions committed”.

Pugas also appealed to the public to report any cases of poor service, in order to contribute to improving the quality of services provided.

“Patients should not be afraid to inform hospital management when they feel they are being mistreated. This is the effort we are making in the sector, to guarantee humanized care, because our greatest value must continue to be life”, he concluded.
(AIM)
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Maputo, 09 Apr (AIM) – The Mozambican government launched the National Tourism Master Plan on Wednesday, which aims to improve the business environment and make the country more attractive to private investment.

According to Fredson Bacar, Secretary of State for Tourism, speaking during the launch of the project in Maputo, the plan will establish clear rules, investment priorities and coordination mechanisms between the public and private sectors, factors considered essential to boost tourism growth.

“The aim is to create a more predictable, organized and attractive business environment where the private sector can invest with confidence,” he said.

He explained that the plan will identify concrete actions and their respective costs, allowing for better planning and mobilization of resources for the sector.

Bacar also revealed that the project has the support of the World Bank, which has provided technical and financial assistance in the development of guiding instruments and the implementation of structuring projects.

Bacar highlighted that improving the business environment also involves investing in infrastructure, roads, water supply, sanitation and security systems, considered crucial to attract investors.

“The private sector only invests where the conditions are created. It is up to the State to guarantee these conditions so that investment can take place”, he stated.

Bacar added that the instruments under development should also contribute to the organization of tourist destinations, the definition of priority areas and the valorization of local potential, with a direct impact on the generation of employment and income for communities.

For his part, Laurent Corthay, World Bank representative in Mozambique, said that a multisectoral approach is crucial.

“The tourism sector is not the responsibility of just one ministry. It is highly multisectoral and requires the participation of sectors as diverse as the environment, transport, interior, security, police, and also at local level”, he stated.
(AIM)
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