Several Mozambican companies are concerned about the circulation of false documents following the looting that took place on 25 December in the context of the post-election demonstrations. The organisations revealed that ‘confidential documents’, contacts, letterheads and stamps were taken during the vandalisation of their establishments.
‘We warn you that, in the coming days, forged documents may circulate in our name,’ reads one of the notices, published by Maputo Grain Terminal and MEREC Industries.
‘To guarantee their authenticity, we ask that all documents received be validated in advance,’ says another notice quoted by Lusa, published by Espiga D’Ouro.
The Confederation of Economic Associations (CTA) estimated that more than 500 businesses were vandalised during the demonstrations, and that at least 12,000 people are now out of work.
‘These are companies that have been vandalised and are located, above all, in Maputo province, where most of the country’s industrial fabric is located,’ said Onório Manuel, vice-president for Industry at the CTA.
‘We’re talking about the country’s biggest food industries, which have already had their equipment damaged and their infrastructure completely destroyed. We’re going to have a shortage of products and probably see a galloping rise in prices,’ he explained, adding that the number of entrepreneurs considering closing their doors due to insecurity is rising.
On 23 December, Mozambique’s Constitutional Council proclaimed Daniel Chapo, the candidate supported by the ruling Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frelimo), as the winner of the election for President of the Republic, with 65.17% of the votes.
Since 21 October, when the protest against the 9 October general elections began, the Decide electoral platform, a non-governmental organisation that monitors the process, has recorded almost 300 deaths and more than 600 people shot.