MOZAMBIQUE CHRONOLOGY - 01-31 JULY 1999

IMOZAMBIQUE CHRONOLOGY - JULY/1999
ITEM NO. 99/07/01 - MZMOZAMBIQUE - SECURITY - LEGISLATION
Mozambican road authorities are to institute fines for drivers caught driving in the country's roads with an alcoholic concentration over 0.6 grams of alcohol per litre of blood. The measure is aimed at curbing the galloping rate of road accidents. In 1998 there were 2194 accidents, an increase of five per cent compared to 1997. About 700 were reported dead. For public transport drivers it is even harder. Because of a zero tolerance they are not to have any traces of alcohol in their blood stream if they are working. Vehicles will also be subjected to regular road fitness tests, starting in mid-2000: four years for light vehicles, yearly inspections for public transport up to the eighth year of registration, and after that after every six months. Any vehicle found road unfit will be taken out of the road, and owner will be given a two month period to repair his vehicle. Fine prices are to double.
From: Fines for drunk drivers / AIM / 1 July 1999

ITEM NO. 99/07/01 - MZ
MOZAMBIQUE - INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION - DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
The European Union, through Spain, is to disburse six million US dollars for development projects in various districts in the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado. The projects include agriculture, education and health. In the agriculture sector the money is particularly meant for the planting of cashew trees in the district of Nangade, traditionally the largest producer in the province. In the other sectors, the money will be used to expand the existent networks. A Spanish doctor is to visit Cabo Delgado, in a near future, to assess the needs of the province in terms of schools and health units.
From: EU to finance development projects in Cabo Delgado / AIM / 1 July 1999

ITEM NO. 99/07/02 - MZ
MOZAMBIQUE - POLITICAL PARTIES - ELECTIONS
A group of 11 Mozambican opposition parties reached an electoral agreement by deciding to rally round a single opposition list, and presidential candidate in the country's forthcoming general elections. The parties also agreed that Afonso Dhlakama, the leader of the Renamo opposition party, would carry their banner as a sole presidential candidate. The parties including PUN (Party of National Unity), FAP (Popular Alliance Force), PPPM (Mozambique's Popular Party), ALIMO (Free Alliance of Mozambique), PUM (Mozambique's Unity Party) and PRD (Democratic Renewal Party), PVM (Mozambican Green Party), MONAMO (Mozambique's National Movement), PCN (Party of National Convention), and PALMO (Mozambique's Liberal Party) also agreed to run under the wings of Renamo. Speaking in a Maputo press conference, the group's spokesman, Manecas Daniel of the PRD, said that Dhlakama's selection "is an imposition of the Mozambican society". Daniel said that the selection had been unanimous. "The establishment of the union was the best form that parties found to dethrone Frelimo (the ruling party)", he said.
From: Dhlakama to run for the presidency / AIM / 2 July 1999

ITEM NO. 99/07/02 - MZ
MOZAMBIQUE - TECHNOLOGY - ENVIRONMENT
Mozambican deputy-Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism Abilio Bichinho said that the country will soon have a Centre of Clean Technologies (CTL), aimed at tackling industrial pollution related problems. Speaking at the opening of a seminar on environmental management in Matola, Bichinho said that the establishment of the CTL will depend on recommendations of a study carried out by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), in coordination with the Ministry of Environmental Coordination and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The centre, in its initial phase, will monitor and audit environmental management in Machava - this site harbours more than 60 per cent of the country's industries. CTL will also tackle environmental problems and advise industries in matters of management and environmental preservation, minimising the effects of pollution, and the upgrading of technologies and production processes.
From: Establishment of environmental-friendly technologies / AIM / 2 July 1999

ITEM NO. 99/07/04 - MZ
MOZAMBIQUE - ELECTIONS
The President of Mozambique's Electoral Commission (CNE), Jamisse Taimo, has urged the country's political parties to work as to guarantee that the forthcoming general elections be transparent, free and fair. "Through your acts, the guidance you give, through your parties at grassroots levels, you must work for harmony so that transparency may become reality", said Taimo at the swearing in ceremony of the presidents of the provincial electoral commissions. He also urged the political parties and the Mozambican society to turn "the elections into a festive and inclusive climate where all of us are actors, where all roll players and share this country's best moments of life".
From: Mozambican Political Parties urged to fight for transparent Elections / AIM / 4 July 1999

ITEM NO. 99/07/05 - MZ
MOZAMBIQUE - REGIONAL INTEGRATION - GLOBALISATION
Mozambican Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Minister Leonardo Simao claimed that globalisation, which currently characterises the world economic trend, does not respond to the "real" socio-economic needs of the peoples of the Third World. Speaking at the opening of a conference on "Cooperation and Integration in Southern Africa" being held in Maputo, Simao said "globalisation is not answering to most of the problems that the people of the South face". Without going into details he said, "the globalisation agenda does not cater for most problems of the countries in the Southern Hemisphere. In this context, all indicates that the new millennium will begin with disputes of space between globalisation and regionalisation". He expressed hope that discussion on this matter will bring deeper knowledge on regional integration. He said that SADC was created as a regional instrument to help overcome poverty and promote stability and welfare for the peoples of the member countries. The meeting, that gathers academicians, members of the diplomatic Corp and Mozambican parliamentarians, discussed the creation of a ground for regional integration of Southern Africa, and will broach specific issues such as the Maputo Development Corridor, among others.
From: Globalisation not the answer, claims Minister / AIM / 5 July 1999

ITEM NO. 99/07/05 - MZ
MOZAMBIQUE - REGIONAL COOPERATION - TRANSPORTS
Mozambican Airline Company (LAM) and its Mauritius counterpart, Air Mauritius, are set to strike a strategic partnership alliance. This was revealed after a meeting between the directors general of LAM, Jose' Ricardo Veigas, and of Air Mauritius, Nash Mallam-Hassam. The Mozambican Company asked the Carat Group, a firm linked to Air Mauritius, to devise a strategic plan of LAM's development. The Mozambican State owns 80 per cent of LAM's share. According to the plan, 30 per cent of LAM could be passed to Air Mauritius. Mallam-Hassam, for his part, said that Air Mauritius results are chiefly due to a strategic partnership alliance with Air France.
From: LAM and Air Mauritius in strategic partnership / AIM / 5 July 1999

ITEM NO. 99/07/05 - MZ
MOZAMBIQUE - REGIONAL INTEGRATION - REGIONAL RELATIONS
Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano said he was happy at the recent Bretton Woods institutions' decision to write off the country's external debt to the tune of 1.7 billion US dollars at today's values. Speaking at the yearly World Economic Forum/Southern Africa Economic Summit, in the South African City of Durban, Chissano said that the debt relief would better the lives of the millions of Mozambicans currently living in absolute poverty. "It is going to contribute to the economic development of Mozambique", he said. Mozambique is considered in world economic forum as a country with a vibrant economy. The double-digitised macro-economic indices and low rate of inflation reflect this. However, this has not started to benefit the majority of the Mozambicans chiefly owing to its huge debt.
From: Chissano at Regional Economic Forum / AIM / 5 July 1999

ITEM NO. 99/07/05 - MZ
MOZAMBIQUE - LITERATURE - BANKING AND FINANCE - LEGISLATION
Mozambican Minister of Planning and Finance Tomaz Salomao said that it is important that scientific works be edited as a means to contribute for the training of human capital. Speaking at the launching of a book on banking legislation, Salomao said that the writing and editing of books would allow students, intellectuals to consult work by Mozambicans. The book, "Banking Legislation Themes", includes 11 dissertations themes of Mozambican lawyers. The current and former ministers of Justice, Jose' Abudo and Ussumane Ali Dauto, respectively, are some of the contributors.
From: Book on Banking Legislation / AIM / 5 July 1999

ITEM NO. 99/07/06 - MZ
MOZAMBIQUE - REGIONAL COOPERATION - INVESTMENT
Mozambican and South African presidents, Joaquim Chissano Thabo Mbeki, respectively, and the Swazi king Mswati III, signed a protocol on the Libombo Spatial Development Initiative (SDI). The signing of the protocol lends the initiative a legal basis at the highest level. The initiative designed by the three governments aims at promoting Eco-tourism and industrial development, as a means to attract more investments for the benefit of all countries. The three countries agreed to develop common strategies and programmes for a fast and sustainable economic development. SDI covers the area of shared borders between the three countries in the northern region of the South African province of Kwazulu-Natal, part of southern Swaziland and the southern areas of the Mozambican province of Maputo.
From: Protocol on Libombos Initiative Signed / AIM / 6 July 1999

ITEM NO. 99/07/09 - MZ
MOZAMBIQUE - INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
German has granted Mozambique some 83 million Deutsche Marks (about 43 million US dollars) for the implementation of its development programmes in the period 1999/2000. According to a press release of the German embassy in Maputo, the decision was taken at the end of three-day talks between Mozambican and German delegations in Maputo. The main areas of co-operation between the two countries are rural development, professional training, health, and the rehabilitation of infrastructures, such as roads and electricity supply network, and the area of mine clearance. German will also contribute about 15 million Marks to rehabilitate the Caia power substation, in the central Sofala province.
From: German support to Mozambican Development Programmes / AIM / 9 July 1999

ITEM NO. 99/07/09 - MZ
MOZAMBIQUE - SECUTIRY -
The northern Mozambican province of Nampula is yet suspect to be a probable UNITA arms conduit, in violation of 1998 United Nations Security Council resolution applying sanctions to the rebel group. The allegation appears in a report prepared by an international team led by Robert Fowler, president of the Security Council commission on sanctions against Angola, that visited some countries in the Southern, Central and West regions of Africa, and Europe. Fowler told a Royal Institute for International Affairs audience that the conclusions arrived at stem from various reports compiled from diverse sources, including not only government members but representatives of the civil society, chiefly those living in suspected areas as well as those suspected of peddling weapons. Asked to back his claims that Nampula is a probable weapons conduit, Fowler said that it was a "suspecion", and that the report suggests the establishment of appropriate mechanisms which, if put into practice might or not confirm that the points were or are being used to supply weapons to UNITA. Nampula had been reported as one of the routes used by UNITA for its arms supply, but the Mozambican government denied the allegations.
From: Nampula suspect weapons conduit for Savimbi / AIM / 9 July 1999

ITEM NO. 99/07/09 - MZ
MOZAMBIQUE - ELECTIONS - VOTING ABROAD
The Mozambican National Elections Commission (CNE) said that Mozambicans living abroad will not vote in the forthcoming general elections, scheduled for late this year, because of the "high costs" involved in an operation of that nature. Speaking at a Maputo press conference, Maria Macuacua, CNE spokesperson, said that organising a voter registration, and monitor the scrutiny abroad "is very costly and the country is not yet prepared for an operation of this nature". "It is a very onerous operation because we would have to train people abroad, we would have to have political parties inspectors there and a series of national and international observers", said Macuacua.
From: No voting abroad, says CNE / AIM / 9 July 1999

ITEM NO. 99/07/10 - MZ
MOZAMBIQUE - REGIONAL COOPERATION - TRADE UNIONS
Trade unions of the paper industry of 15 African countries met in Maputo, in a regional conference and discussed problems that affect the sector and draft strategies for their solution. The secretary of the Mozambican National Union of Chemical, Rubber, Paper and Graphic Industry Workers (SINTIQUIGRA), Bartolomeu Passado, said that the conference, organised by the International Graphic Federation (IGF), also discussed specific issues such as working women in Africa. Since this trade union joined IGF, in 1996, 14 national workshops took place aided by the international organisation, which benefited about 300 members. SINTIQUIGRA has 231 member companies, employing 9,506 workers, 1,612 of who are women.
From: Regional conference graphic Trade Unions / AIM / 10 July 1999

ITEM NO. 99/07/10 - MZ
MOZAMBIQUE - ECONOMIC CONDITIONS - DEBT REDUCTION
The Paris Club creditors have agreed to a reduction of 90 per cent of Mozambique's stock of debt, in a measure aimed at turning the country's external debt "sustainable". Meeting in the capital of France, Paris, on 8 and 9 July representatives of creditors nations agreed to recommend to their governments a debt reduction and reorganisation of Mozambique's stock of debt due to them. According to a Mozambican Ministry of Planning and Finance, the creditors decided, "as their contribution under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, to recommend a treatment providing for a reduction of 90 per cent in net present value of the stock of debt due in eligible loans and credits". "This represents the Paris Club share of the debt reduction in the framework of the existing HIPC initiative from over 500 per cent to 200 percent of exports", says the document. The creditor countries also agreed to include in the reorganisation of Mozambique's debt a voluntary debt swap facility of up to 30 per cent of the stock of debt of each creditor country. Before all these announcements the debt was estimated at 5.5 billion US dollars, but attempts to get the authorities to quote the latest right figure of the debt have produced silence.
From: Paris Club agrees on further debt reduction / AIM / 10 July 1999

ITEM NO. 99/07/11 - MZ
MOZAMBIQUE - HUMAN DEVELOPMENT - UNDP REPORT
Mozambique along with Guinea-Bissau languishes at 169th and 168th position respectively out of 174 world's least developed countries, according to a 1999 United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report. However, Guinea-Bissau could be in reality faring no better than Mozambique - the findings were taken before the armed conflict that led to the overthrowing of President Nino Vieira. Mozambique's life expectancy at birth is pegged at 45.2 years, but this contradicts the country's 1998 Human Development Report funded by the UNDP, which places the figure at an estimated 47.1 years. As for the adult literacy rate, the same discrepancies are observed in relation to Mozambique: the country's report says 63 per cent while the UNDP's one speaks of 40.5 per cent. The report gives a per capita GDP adjusted for purchasing power parities of 740 US dollars for Mozambique. Per capita GDP for 1998 was estimated at US 1439,6 dollars. Sources close to Mozambique's human development report said that when contacting the UNDP to iron out the discrepancies were told that a new methodology was used, chiefly observing yearly trends. While the UNDP continued to use population projections that estimated the 1998 country's inhabitants at 18 million, they ratcheted up the income. But the sources say that even allowing for a new methodology, "there is no relation between the figures".
From: Mozambique still among least developed countries / AIM / 11 July 1999

ITEM NO. 99/07/11 - MZ
MOZAMBIQUE - ELECTIONS - POLITICAL PARTIES
The ruling Mozambican Frelimo party has said that the recent establishment of an opposition electoral union does not worry it in the least. 11 opposition parties recently announced the creation of an electoral union rallying round the country's major opposition political force Renamo. This included running under Renamo's banner as well as backing the presidential candidacy of the party's leader Afonso Dhlakama. Frelimo's central committee member, Alcido Nguenha, said, "we see that as a strategy of the opposition parties; they think that way they can manage to obtain some satisfactory results at the elections. But Frelimo follows its own strategy and programme of governance". He boasted that Frelimo would win the elections since contacts with populations indicate that the party is still popular with the populace.
From: FRELIMO unruffled by opposition electoral union / AIM / 11 July 1999

ITEM NO. 99/07/12 - MZ
MOZAMBIQUE - INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION - HEALTH
Portuguese Health Minister Maria Belem Roseira visited Mozambique where she signed a bilateral cooperation memorandum of understanding with the Mozambican health authorities. She was met with her Mozambican counterpart Aurelio Zilhao, followed by a visit to the faculty of Medicine of the country's Eduardo Mondlane University. Roseira also visited northern Nampula, and the southern Gaza province.
From: Portuguese health minister in Mozambique / AIM / 12 July 1999

ITEM NO. 99/07/14 - MZ
MOZAMBIQUE - INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS - PARLIAMENT
The meeting of the parliamentary forum of the Community of the Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP) held in Maputo confirmed this city as the future headquarters of the forum. The decision was taken by unanimity of the participants to the meeting. Mozambique and Guinea-Bissau submitted their candidacies last year in Lisbon, but Mozambique won preference because of the present situation in Guinea-Bissau after the recently ended-armed conflict. However, the headquarters will still function in Lisbon, where they have been provisionally, until all infrastructures and logistics are created in Maputo, which is expected to happen by next year. In its last session, the forum expressed solidarity with the peoples of Angola and East Timor, and urged the international community to support all efforts for the reconstruction of Guinea- Bissau.
From: CPLP Parliament forum headquarters To Be Installed In Maputo / AIM / 14 July 1999

ITEM NO. 99/07/14 - MZ
MOZAMBIQUE - INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION - SECURITY
Instructors of Special Units of the Mozambican police are soon to be trained in Spain in matters of riot, terrorism and protection of high personalities. The sources cites Nataniel Macamo, the spokesperson of the police general command, as saying that in terms of the protocol, the Spanish police are also to train instructors of the Mozambican maritime police, experts in road accidents and criminalists, including experts in ADN exams, among other specialities. Spanish police is currently working in Mozambique, in a programme financed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to reform the police. Meanwhile, five officials of the Mozambican police were dispatched to East Timor, at the invitation of the United Nations, for a peace-monitoring mission. Another group of five officials is expected to leave within a few days for Kosovo, also in a peace mission.
From: Spain to train Mozambican Police Special Units / AIM / 14 July 1999

ITEM NO. 99/07/15 - MZ
MOZAMBIQUE - INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION - HEALTH
Mozambique and Portugal signed in Maputo, a 12 million US dollars cooperation agreement in the sector of health, for the period between 1999 and the year 2001. Signing on behalf of the Portuguese government was that country's health Minister Maria Belem Roseira, whereas on the Mozambican side Health Minister Aurelio Zilhao signed the document. Speaking on the occasion, Roseira said that this money is to be used in the provinces of Maputo and Gaza, in the south of the country, and Nampula in the north, which she visited during her stay in Mozambique. "We think that the 12 million US dollars for these three year period, if properly used, can help minimise the difficulties", she said. On his part, Zilhao said that the areas where this money will be used are not yet very well defined, but he ensured that nursing is enlisted as one of the priority areas, particularly the training of midwives, and other technicians. He said that the main concern of his ministry is staff training. "As you know, the country does not have a single psychiatrist or rheumatologist", he said.
From: Cooperation agreement Mozambique/Portugal / AIM / 15 July 1999

ITEM NO. 99/07/16 - MZ
MOZAMBIQUE - INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION - HEALTH
Finland is to grant about 2.9 million US dollars to support the Mozambican health sector for the period between 1999 and the year 2001. An agreement for that effect was signed by the Mozambican deputy Foreign Minister Hipolito Patricio, and the Finnish charge d'affairs in Mozambique, Juhani Toivonen. In the terms of the agreement, Finland is also to lend assistance to the maintenance department of the Health ministry, reads a press release issued by the Mozambican Foreign ministry. Finland is also financing projects in the Mozambican Education ministry and the mine clearance programme, through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
From: Finland supports Mozambican health sector / AIM / 16 July 1999

ITEM NO. 99/07/16 - MZ
MOZAMBIQUE - HEALTH - POLIO
The representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Mozambique, Carlos Tiny, assured that is "minor" today the risk of Mozambique not getting the certificate as "a country free from polio" in the year 2000. Speaking during a press conference in Maputo, Tiny said, "the level of organization of these campaigns, at national, provincial and district scale, has been ever higher as the process advances". On the same occasion, Mozambican Health Minister Aurelio Zilhao said that all conditions have been created for both vaccination periods, being the first dose between 26 and 30 July, and the second between 30 August and 3 September. The vaccination will cover all children aged up to five. Poliomyelitis is a disease caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system, leading to paralysis, particularly in children. The World Health Organization chose the year 2000 as the target to eradicate this disease from the planet. From: Mozambique nears certification of free of Polio / AIM / 16 July 1999

ITEM NO. 99/07/19 - MZ
MOZAMBIQUE - INTERNATIONAL COOPEARTION - US EMBASSY
The United States of America have shut their embassy in Maputo for an indeterminate period. "We're temporarily closed to prevent accidents and loss of lives", said Harriet McGuire, cultural and press attach of the United States Information Services (USIS) in Maputo. Speaking on the occasion McGuire said that the measure deemed prudent follows recent threats to American lives and targets the world over received by the US State Department. The US has been beefing up its security following the August 1998 simultaneous bombings of its embassies in Nairobi and Dar Es Salam, which claimed 224 lives and injured more than 4,000 people. In the ensuing investigations US intelligence accused Saudi dissident Ossama Bin Laden of masterminding and bankrolling the attacks.
From: US shut Embassy in Mozambique / AIM / 19 July 1999

ITEM NO. 99/07/19 - MZ
MOZAMBIQUE - POLITICAL PARTIES - CONGRESS
The Mozambican opposition Renamo party has yet again postponed its long-due congress "sine die". Its leader Afonso Dhlakama had announced July 1999 as a probable date for the congress, but Chico Francisco, the party spokesman for its national council, said that Renamo decided on shelving it instead to allow the militants to prepare for the forthcoming general elections. Because journalists were expressing scepticism that the congress will ever be held after successive delays, Francisco said it would still happen before the elections to allow that the new party statutes and its government policy proposals be endorsed. He said that the postponement would also grant the party time to look into what it considered "uneasiness" caused by a decision by the country's Electoral Administration Technical Secretariat (STAE) to issue a list of "places of difficult access" in the voter registration starting on 20 July.
From: RENAMO postpones its Congress / AIM / 19 July 1999

ITEM NO. 99/07/20 - MZ
MOZAMBIQUE - BANKING AND FINANCE - CENTRAL BANK
Ernest Gove, deputy-Governor of the Mozambican central bank, "Banco de Mocambique", said that the country's banking sector has grown quite considerably. Speaking at the launching of a research on the banking sector undertaken by the consultancy firm KPMG, Gove said that the growth occurs "thanks to the modernisation and territorial expansion of the banks through out the country". Modernisation, which is reflected on the diversity of the products on offer, has contributed for the gradual "bankarization" of the Mozambican economy he said. Meanwhile, the research points out that in 1998 there was a 17.9 per cent growth in money supply compared to 1997. Although the monetary base for 1998 was practically constant, there were 8,737,182 million meticais in circulation as opposed to the 7,413,530 million meticais in 1997. The deposit coefficient multiplier was 3.3 per cent for the period ending December 1998, compared to 2.4 per cent for the previous year.
From: Banking sector growth / 20 July 1999

ITEM NO. 99/07/21 - MZ
MOZAMBIQUE - AGRICULTURE - INTERNATIONAL AID - AGRICULTURE
The Australian government granted, 4.205 million US dollars to Mozambique meant to support the government's five-year National Programme for Agricultural Development (PROAGRI). According to a press release issued by the Australian Embassy in Maputo, this aid "is in recognition of the impressive performance by the government of Mozambique in changing the country from one with large emergency food needs to a country that is heading towards self-sufficiency in most grain crops". The release praised PROAGRI's intention to achieve institutional reform within the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. The embassy added, "it is hoped that PROAGRI will ensure that the benefits of a favourable policy environment will flow to the rural poor". Support for PROAGRI is one of the major components of Australian aid to Mozambique for 1999, totalling 9.2 million US dollars. The rest of the amount is being used to fund capacity building programmes in the public sector, mine clearance activities, and health, water supply and sanitation projects.
From: Australian support to PROAGRI / AIM / 21 July 1999

ITEM NO. 99/07/22 - MZ
MOZAMBIQUE - ELECTIONS - VOTER REGISTRATION
The general director of Mozambique's Electoral Administration Technical Secretariat (STAE), Antonio Carrasco, said in Maputo that voter registration, will cover "the entire country". STAE has published a list of areas, which it described as "places of difficult access", to which Renamo reacted by saying that this was a preparation to exclude those areas from the elections. The argument of Renamo and other opposition parties is that if those remote areas are excluded, they will be the losers, since they claim to have support in the countryside, and argue that support for the ruling Frelimo party is based in the towns and cities. Speaking after Prime Minister Pascoal Mocumbi had registered as a voter, Carrasco described Renamo's fears as "groundless", stressing that his institution has enough money to reach all corners of the country, by helicopter if necessary. Besides other logistical resources, STAE has hired, with the support of the European Union, three helicopters from South Africa.
From: STAE guarantees voter registration throughout Mozambique / AIM / 22 July 1999

ITEM NO. 99/07/22 - MZ
MOZAMBIQUE - HEALTH - POLIO
Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano said in Maputo that polio is no longer one of the main public health problems facing the country. "This victory of all Mozambicans in the fight against this disease needs to be consolidated", he said, in a message urging citizens to take their children for vaccination against polio. The first dose of this year's vaccination was between 23 and 30 July, while the second will be given between 30 August and 3 September. It is expected to cover about 3.3 million children aged fewer than five. The Mozambican government promised, in 1988, during a meeting of the World Health Assembly, to eradicate polio by the year 2000, and launched yearly vaccination campaigns against this disease, in 1996. "Twenty years after the launching of the Vaccination Programme, and as a result of the yearly campaigns that we started in 1996, today we are able to eradicate polio from Mozambique", said Chissano, adding that "it takes two droplets in the mouth of a child and he or she will be protected against polio for the rest of their lives". Mozambican statistics show that one case was diagnosed in 1990, three in 1992, and none as from 1993. These can be compared with the 60 cases reported in 1980.
From: Polio no longer a major public health problem / AIM / 22 July 1999

ITEM NO. 99/07/23 - MZ
MOZAMBIQUE - SOUTHERN AFRICA - REPATRIATION
The Mozambican government has protested at the methods used by neighbouring Zimbabwe to repatriate about 600 Mozambicans accused of "illegal mining" in that country. The repatriation operation involved the use of police dogs, horses and buses escorted by special police units. A press release issued by the Mozambican Foreign Ministry on Thursday said "the Mozambican government expresses dissatisfaction at the methods used, because they are contrary to the mechanisms established between the two countries namely, the involvement of the Mozambican authorities through the Consular services to ensure selection of the people to be repatriated, and to guarantee basic conditions to receive them and send them back to their places of origin". The Zimbabwean High Commissioner in Maputo has apologised to the Mozambican authorities. He said that this operation was not directed against the Mozambicans in particular, but against "criminals", Zimbabwean nationals included. According to the Foreign Ministry note, he blamed the situation on "mistakes by some policemen in his country", who did not take into consideration the need to involve the Mozambican Consular services. The Zimbabwean government promised "to take appropriate measures" to prevent similar situations in the future.
From: Mozambique against Zimbabwean repatriation methods / AIM / 23 July 1999

ITEM NO. 99/07/24 - MZ
MOZAMBIQUE - INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION - POPULATION
The Portuguese government is to grant five million US dollars to support employment and welfare projects in Mozambique during the next three years. The announcement was made during a press conference, marking the end of a five-day visit of Portuguese Labour Minister Ferro Rodrigues to Mozambique. Rodrigues said that his government would not restrict its cooperation with Mozambique to the economic area, but would also provide assistance for the needs of vulnerable people. Without specifying the amounts to be allocated to each of these areas, the agreement signed between the two governments establishes that in the Mozambican Labour Ministry, Portugal will help in the areas of national classification of professions, labour relations, safety, hygiene and health in the work place, and professional training, among others. In the area of welfare, the promised money will be used to acquire equipment, and create a training centre, with the capacity to cater for 60 students at a time, as well as training trainers for the area of the disabled and rehabilitating infrastructures.
From: Portugal supports Mozambican employment and welfare / AIM / 24 July 1999

ITEM NO. 99/07/29 - MZ
MOZAMBIQUE - SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - MILLENNIUM BAG
Mozambique does not have enough money to update all the country's computer systems that might be affected by the "millennium bug", also known as the "Y2K" problem, a spokesman for the Executive Commission of Computing Policy said in Maputo. The source estimated the current number of computers in the country at 10,000, but he warned that the millennium bug might affect not only computers, but also other electronic equipment. "The country has to establish the conditions to save the critical computer systems. We have insisted on the term ''critical systems'' because if, for instance, the country does not have the money to guarantee the equipment to process wages in the state apparatus, it means that about 100,000 civil servants will not be paid", he added. "Thus, this sector is critical and the state has to find mechanisms to solve the problem". He said that the Technical Support Unit on this matter has already determined all the areas classified as critical. "Now, certain sectors, such as banking, telecommunications, insurance and others of public interest are to decide what should be converted, according to their interests, in order not to prejudice the national economy", he said.
From: Mozambique lacks money to solve the "Millennium Bug" / AIM / 29 July 1999

ITEM NO. 99/07/29 - MZ
MOZAMBIQUE - INVESTMENT - TOURISM
The foundation stone was laid in Maputo, for the building of a Holiday Inn hotel, the inauguration of which is scheduled for late 2000. The undertaking owned by South African and Mozambican interests, is budgeted at around US$13 million The South African shares belong to the Southern Sun group (75 percent), while the Mozambican Tourism Company (SOTUR), which holds the remaining 25 percent, represents the Mozambican side. The Hotel is to be built on the Maputo seafront, on a site formerly occupied by a derelict restaurant, and 70 percent of its rooms will face the sea. The future Holiday Inn will have 159 rooms, two conference halls, two restaurants, a gymnasium and an open-air swimming pool. It will employ 150 people, most of them Mozambican. It boasts a chain of 80 hotels, with a total of 13,485 rooms, throughout southern Africa. Currently Maputo possesses 12 functioning hotels.
From: New Hotel for Maputo / AIM / 29 July 1999

ITEM NO. 99/07/30 - MZ
MOZAMBIQUE - SECURITY
The Mozambican government has no evidence that the northern port of Nacala is being used for landestine military supplies to the Angolan rebel movement UNITA, said the Prime Minister Pascoal Mocumbi. Sporadically reports have circulated claiming that Nacala is part of a complicated smuggling route, involving sea, land and air transport, whereby armament reaches UNITA. Speaking at a Maputo press briefing, Mocumbi said the government "took note of what these supposedly independent observers were saying about the use of Nacala at dead of night. We are very vigilant against such use". The government had contacted the Angolan authorities and had investigated. "We discovered nothing", said Mocumbi. He was sure that Nacala "is not being used to support any group against any government in the region, much less to support UNITA".
From: Mozambican Port not used to supply UNITA / AIM / 30 July 1999

ITEM NO. 99/07/30 - MZ
MOZAMBIQUE - ELECTIONS - DATE
Mozambique's National Elections Commission (CNE) has proposed that the country's second multiparty presidential and parliamentary elections be held on 3 or 4 December, said the CNE spokesperson Maria Macuacua. The CNE proposal now goes to President Joaquim Chissano. Under Mozambican law it is the President who must take the final decision, and formally announce the election date. Macuacua said that the December date was consensual among the 17 members of the commission (eight of whom were nominated by the ruling Frelimo Party, six - including Macuacua - by the former rebel movement Renamo, one by the Democratic Union coalition of small opposition parties, and two by the government). She said that, unless some disaster beyond the CNE's control occurred, then 3-4 December were perfectly feasible dates for the election. The CNE had worked out a timetable for the electoral preparations, and everything fitted in with the December dates, she said.
From: December date proposed for elections / AIM / 30 July 1999

ITEM NO. 99/07/30 - MZ
MOZAMBIQUE - INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS - GLOBALISATION
Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano has stressed the need to give globalisation "a human face", so that no-one is prejudiced by or excluded from the rapid changes transforming today's world. Speaking to Mozambican journalists in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur, after participating in the "Fourth International Dialogue on Smart Partnership", Chissano said that globalisation will only be effective if it contributes to "increasing equilibrium" between rich and poor countries. "In itself, globalisation is something which can neither be rejected nor fought against. Indeed it can be beneficial", he said. But he insisted that globalisation should be practised in such a way as not to prejudice poor countries in favour of rich ones. He urged that the rich should always be on the lookout for what the poor could gain from globalisation, warning that if uncontrollable crises continue in the poorest countries this could also lead to crises in the developed world. Globalisation, he urged, should also take account of the need to develop the poorer nations, currently grappling with problems of poverty, unemployment and foreign debt.
From: Chissano wants "Human Face" of Globalisation / AIM / 30 July 1999

ITEM NO. 99/07/31 - MZ
MOZAMBIQUE - TRANSPORTS AND COMMUNICATION - NEW PORT
The Mozambican government signed an agreement with the country's publicly owned ports and Railways Company, CFM, and with the company Porto Dobela Developments Ltd, on the principles underlying the building of a new port in the far south of Mozambique. This will be a deep-water port and ocean terminal at Ponta Dobela, about 70 kilometres south of Maputo. The new port will be at the heart of a "special economic zone", with tax and duty free incentives for businesses. According to a press release from Porto Dobela Developments, the total investment involved will be a minimum of US$515 million over a maximum period of six years. The proposal to build a port at Ponta Dobela is at least 30 years old. The Portuguese colonial authorities saw the potential of the area in the 1960s, and authorised CFM to draw up the first studies. A viability study was drawn up in 1971, followed by detailed studies in 1972 and 1973. The land for the port installations was identified, and it was demarcated and given to CFM. The port is expected to cover an area of 20,000 hectares, and its limits will be redefined by a Mozambican inter ministerial commission. (AIM)
From: Ponta Dobela agreement signed / AIM / 31 July 1999

MOZAMBIQUE CHRONOLOGY 01-31 JULY 1999

Compiled by SARDC Maputo