Maputo, 2 Apr (AIM) – The Minister of Health of Mozambique, Ussene Isse, said he felt embarrassed by the theft of medicines from the country’s hospitals.

When giving the opening lecture at the Higher Institute of Health Sciences in Maputo, on Wednesday, Isse accused some health professionals of treating their patients “without due humanism”.

“I feel very ashamed when we are questioned by the public,” he admitted. He recalled that they told him: “Mr. Minister, here in your hospital they demand illegal charges. Here in your hospital they mistreat us. Here in your hospital they are stealing medicines. How can I be happy when I hear these things?”

The worst problems with illegal charges occurred in maternity wards, Isse said. Pregnant women hid money in their clothes to offer as bribes in exchange for preferential treatment.

Isse also criticized the health professionals who participated in the demonstrations. “A good healthcare professional does not live in busy environments”, he warned.

He urged hospital managers to analyze the level of satisfaction of hospital users and insisted that medical faculties must teach medical ethics.
(AIM)
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Maputo, 2 Apr (AIM) – The Frelimo party, in power in Mozambique, demanded the government to take measures to address a possible fuel shortage.

A week ago, the government assured the public that, despite US/Israeli aggression against Iran, and the subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Mozambique is not in imminent danger of running out of liquid fuels.

Many drivers did not believe such assurances, and there was panic buying of gasoline and diesel at fuel pumps in Maputo and the neighboring city of Matola last Friday and Saturday.

The queues of vehicles in Maputo have decreased but there are alarming reports from other parts of the country. Thus, on Thursday, the independent television station STV reported that in the city of Xai-Xai, capital of Gaza province, only two pumps had fuel to sell.

Meeting in Maputo on Wednesday, the Frelimo Political Commission took a much less optimistic position on the fuel crisis than the government. The Political Commission demanded that the government take “urgent measures” to deal with a possible fuel shortage.

In a statement read to the press by Frelimo spokesperson, Pedro Guiliche, the Commission instructed the government “to adopt short and medium-term mechanisms to face the current fuel crisis, resulting from the conflict in the Middle East, whose effects are being felt throughout the world”.

The Political Commission told the government “to ensure the availability of sufficient fuel reserves to maintain stable supplies, while monitoring developments in the conflict in the Middle East”.

As a short-term measure, the Commission ordered the government to ensure the availability of foreign exchange to import fuel and other essential goods. The government should “carefully use the Stabilization Fund, directing resources to cushion shocks, focusing on protecting the most vulnerable segments of society.”

Prices must be continuously monitored, he added, to avoid running out of stocks and avoid any speculation. It also called for an increase in fuel storage capacity.

So far there have been no requests for fuel rationing. However, this is a measure that Mozambique has used in previous moments of severe fuel shortages. A rationing system was in place in Maputo in the early 1980s and was probably instrumental in keeping transport in the city running.
(AIM)
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Maputo, 2 April (AIM) – The United Kingdom disbursed US$79.9 million to support Mozambique’s water supply systems.

In a statement, the UK government explains that through the Transformation of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Services (T-WASH), which was implemented between 2015 and 2026, the UK supported Mozambique’s National Rural Water and Sanitation Strategy, financing more than 200 water systems and approximately 2,000 wells in rural communities, strengthening systems for planning, distributing and maintaining water and sanitation services.

“The T-WASH program, with the respective funds delivered in two phases, has improved sanitation for 3.3 million people, with the United Kingdom supporting Mozambique’s National Rural Water and Sanitation Strategy (PRONASAR) since 2009”, the document reads.

The program was implemented in partnership with the National Directorate of Water Supply and Sanitation (DNAAS).

“With the end of the 10-year water access program, the United Kingdom now promises to focus on mobilizing funds for climate finance and private investment, reducing dependence on traditional aid financing and ensuring the long-term sustainability of infrastructure already built”, the note reads.

UK funding for water supplies is ending after the government announced that the country needs $4.1 billion to drive the expansion of sustainable water supply and sanitation systems.
(AIM)
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Maputo, 2 Apr (AIM) – Mozambican health authorities intend to vaccinate around 3.5 million people against cholera in nine districts in central and northern Mozambique.

The seven-day campaign, which begins Friday, will cover the districts of Nacala-Port, Érati and Monapo, in Nampula province; Pemba and Metuge, in Cabo Delgado; Morrumbala, in the central province of Zambézia; City of Moatize and Tete, in the province of Tete; and the central city of Beira.

According to government spokesman and Minister of State Administration, Inocêncio Impissa, vaccination aims to reinforce immunization in the areas most affected by cholera.

Data from the Ministry of Health indicate that, from October 2025 to March 24 of this year, more than 8 thousand cases of cholera were recorded, resulting in 83 deaths.

According to the Ministry’s most recent bulletin, of the 8,022 cases reported, 3,545 occurred in Nampula, with 39 deaths, and 2,771 in Tete, with 32 deaths.

Cabo Delgado recorded 1,050 cases and eight deaths, while Zambézia reported 129 cases and one death.

Sofala province reported 392 cases and one death, and Manica recorded 132 cases and two deaths.

In the southern provinces, Gaza recorded one case, while the province and city of Maputo reported two cases each.

The overall fatality rate remains around one percent, with 49 people currently hospitalized.

The occurrence of cholera outbreaks is associated with the rainy season, which begins in October 2025, and generally ends at the end of March.
(AIM)
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Maputo, 2 April (AIM) – More than 370 thousand people are expected to cross Mozambique’s borders during the Easter holidays, according to the Foreigners Service (Senami).

According to Juca Bata, Senami spokesperson, the peak of movement should occur in the next five days.

“For the current operation, a migratory movement of 372,053 travelers is expected, compared to the 356,672 registered in the same period in 2025, which represents an increase of approximately 17 thousand travelers,” he said.

He believes the increase is associated with the country’s sociopolitical stability, unlike the same period last year, when Mozambique was still recovering from mass protests against the results of the October 2024 elections, widely considered fraudulent.

According to Bata, “we will reduce waiting times for the clearance of people and goods, reinforce migration control and document inspection and combat smuggling at border posts”.

Due to the expected increase in the flow of travelers, the opening hours of some crossings will be extended. Thus, on the border of Ponta de Ouro, with the South African province of Kwazulu-Natal, “opening hours will be from 06:00 to 18:00, compared to the previous hours of 07:00 to 18:00”, said Bata.

“Operation Easter 2026”, launched on March 27, has already registered, in the first four days, the border movement of 71 thousand travelers.

The operation is coordinated by a Joint Command, which includes Mozambique Customs, Senami and the Defense and Security Forces. (AIM)
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