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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