The Minister of State Administration and Public Service, Inocêncio Impissa, reiterated that the Government needs €469.3 million to restore infrastructure destroyed during protests following the 2024 general elections, in which the Frelimo party and its candidate, Daniel Chapo, were declared winners.
Cited by Lusa, the minister stated that the unrest hinders national development, arguing that the protests “caused the country to take many steps backward,” resulting in losses for the business environment.
“We have regressed to the 1980s or even earlier. Mozambique, like no other country, deserves to live in such insecurity,” the minister said, adding that the Government is mobilizing resources to support municipalities that were left without the minimum infrastructure necessary for the functioning of public administration.
In December, during the presentation of the General State of the Nation, President Daniel Chapo emphasized that the damages caused by the protests had a profound impact on the economy and social fabric, noting that funds initially intended for development were redirected to reconstruct destroyed infrastructure.
“The funds that were meant to finance new water sources, energy for communities, medicines for public hospitals, and school desks for our children had to be used to repair burned schools, vandalized hospitals, and destroyed medical warehouses,” he said.
To address some of the damages, the Government announced the creation of a subsidized credit line worth $156 million to support companies severely affected by the violent protests. The announcement was made by Finance Minister Carla Louveira during an event organized by the Confederation of Economic Associations (CTA), as part of measures to support economic recovery.
The minister explained last year that the initiative aims to provide financial relief to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) facing cash flow and investment challenges following the destruction of infrastructure and essential business assets.
“We are aware of the significant impact these protests had on the country’s business sector, jeopardizing the sustainability of many businesses. This credit line is a concrete response to mitigate these effects and enable the resumption of economic activities,” Carla Louveira stated.
According to non-governmental organizations monitoring the electoral process, around 400 people lost their lives in clashes with police, conflicts that ended after meetings between Mondlane and Chapo on March 23 and May 20, aimed at pacifying the country.
Source: Diário Económico
