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Instability in Mozambique Leaves Entrepreneurs Without Recovery Strategies

Instability in Mozambique Leaves Entrepreneurs Without Recovery Strategies

The growing political instability in the country has made it difficult for companies affected by the recent wave of violence and looting to recover, leaving some entrepreneurs without a clear strategy for resuming their activities. The scenario of uncertainty jeopardises investments, puts jobs at risk and leaves strategic sectors of the economy in a weakened position, according to the newspaper O País.

At the centre of this crisis is Agri Inputs, an agricultural products storage and distribution company that has seen its warehouses completely ransacked and vandalised. The company’s main warehouse, with capacity for 5,000 tonnes of rice, was full when it was invaded by looters. Now what remains are piles of torn sacks, a floor covered in wasted grain and workers unsure of the future.

Ernesto, one of the warehouse workers, walks the corridors of the empty building, trampling on what was once an essential product for thousands of families. ‘We don’t know what’s going to happen to us. The bosses are still assessing the damage, but what we see here gives us no hope,’ he laments. Ernesto has worked at Agri Inputs since it opened and never imagined seeing the company reduced to this state.

The marks of the destruction are visible everywhere. Holes in the walls, forced open by looters to make it easier for the bags of rice to get out, have now been improvised. Inside, workers are trying to start a clean-up process, but without a defined recovery plan, the resumption of operations remains uncertain.

Insecurity also puts off potential investors, who are hesitant to inject capital in an environment of instability. Entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector warn that the failure to quickly replenish products could lead to a disruption in food supplies, further aggravating the economic and social crisis.

In addition to the material destruction, the human impact of the violence is evident. Agri Inputs workers report that, during the clashes, they saw several bodies scattered around the site, the result of gunshots and the use of tear gas to disperse crowds. Fear still hangs over the employees, who don’t know if it will be safe to continue working there.

For business owners, the biggest challenge at the moment is uncertainty. With no guarantees of safety and no concrete measures of government support, many are hesitant to define a recovery plan. The lack of political stability jeopardises not only the companies affected, but also the entire production and commercial chain, in a domino effect that could take months, or even years, to reverse.

While workers try to restore some sense of normality, entrepreneurs are waiting for signs of stability that will allow them to rebuild their businesses. Until then, the future of the Mozambican economy remains shrouded in a cloud of uncertainty, with thousands of jobs and investments pending a solution to the crisis.

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