The International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned on Tuesday (27) that the kidnappings that have been taking place can have a negative impact on the national economy, pointing out that crime can reduce investment.
“Kidnappings have a negative impact, public insecurity reduces the willingness to invest, because those who feel threatened end up giving up on a particular investment,” said the IMF representative in Mozambique, Alexis Meyer-Cirkel, on the sidelines of a seminar with members of the Assembly of the Republic’s Planning and Budget Committee.
According to the official, the organisation he represents has not yet carried out a specific study on the impact of kidnappings on the Mozambican economy, but he stressed that he is awaiting “with interest” the results of an assessment being made by the Confederation of Economic Associations (CTA).
In January, the Mozambican President, Filipe Nyusi, said that the government was already working to mobilise resources to activate the anti-kidnapping brigade, in order to prevent more people from becoming victims, revealing that there are groups of agents who are benefiting from training inside and outside the country.
“There are various obstacles that make it difficult to combat kidnappings, but we are working on international co-operation in order to establish links for joint action. We are also improving surveillance and patrol systems for actions to prevent and combat kidnapping and we have intensified coordination with local structures and citizens in general,” said the head of state.
Nyusi also pointed out that the legal frameworks of the Republic of Mozambique Police (PRM) and the National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC) are being revised to adapt them to the challenges posed by organised and transnational crime.
“We are establishing a mechanism for collaboration with the national business sector as part of coordination with the private sector to prevent and combat this phenomenon,” he added.
In 2023, the police authorities recorded 13 kidnapping offences, of which seven were completed and six were thwarted by police action and collaboration with the communities.
