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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Mozambique’s government have agreed to wrap up discussions on the current assistance program and start talks on a fresh financial arrangement. The IMF confirmed the development, stating that negotiations will begin in the near future.
In a statement reported by Lusa, the IMF said Mozambique’s government has sought a new program to better match the economic goals of the country’s new leadership. The two sides also decided to halt further reviews under the existing Extended Credit Facility (ECF), originally part of the ongoing support plan.
An IMF delegation visited Mozambique from February 19 to March 4 to review policy progress under the ECF, with follow-up discussions held virtually. The ECF, approved in May 2022, initially earmarked 456 million (28.8 billion meticais) in funding. So far, four disbursements have been made, including a 63.5 million (4 billion meticais) payment in June 2024.
A third review in January unlocked an additional 60.7 million (4.3 billion meticais), bringing total disbursements under the program to around 273 million (19.6 billion meticais).
Despite these advances, the IMF cautioned that Mozambique must urgently address fiscal imbalances this year to stabilize public finances. Pablo Lopez Murphy, the IMF mission chief, noted that preliminary data suggests significant budget overruns in 2024, partly due to weaker economic growth late in the year. He emphasized that fiscal discipline is essential to maintaining economic stability.
The IMF also flagged excessive public wage spending as a drain on priority investments, urging reforms to streamline payroll costs and cut tax breaks. Additionally, it called for stronger debt management to prevent defaults and stressed the importance of protecting social spending.
While President Daniel Chapo previously assured that IMF support would continue, the latest talks signal a shift toward a redesigned assistance framework. The upcoming negotiations will determine the structure of the new program.
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Malawi and Mozambique held a bilateral meeting in Tete Province from 8-10 March 2025, to discuss measures for operationalizing the One-Stop Border Post (OSBP).
The meeting also reviewed modalities for piloting the OSBP at the Dedza-Calomue and Mwanza-Zobue border posts.
The meeting was co-chaired by Her Excellency Wezi Moyo, High Commissioner of Malawi in Mozambique and her Mozambican counterpart based in Lilongwe, Malawi. In their opening remarks, they reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to implementing the OSBP, in line with the directives issued by their heads of state in Maputo in August 2024.
The co-chairs expressed confidence that the meeting would address key operational challenges and accelerate the rollout of the OSBP at the designated border posts.
Customs and Trade Facilitation
The clusters presented several issues, including:
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Installation of a computerized system at arrival gates to register incoming cargo.
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Deployment of traffic guides to manage and direct cargo movements.
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Installation of scanners for cargo inspection at Dedza and Mwanza.
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Extension of customs clearance systems.
Decisions made:
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Border visits will be conducted to assess human resource needs.
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Gate passes will be issued upon registration to enhance access control and security.
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Traffic guides will be introduced to improve cargo flow efficiency.
Immigration Clusters
Agreements included:
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Each country will maintain its own systems, but the two systems will be interfaced in the future.
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Border pass data will be shared through a Government Wide Area Network (GWAN).
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The clusters will explore an immigration data-sharing mechanism.
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Reliable power and network infrastructure are essential for smooth operations.
Defense and Security
Key resolutions:
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No foreign forces may enter another country’s territory without a special agreement.
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Each state may deploy only three uniformed officers (with visible distinctions) at the host state’s OSBP, operating under the bilateral agreement.
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The host state will provide office space for adjoining officers.
Additional decisions:
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Mozambique will facilitate a field visit and allocate office space for Malawian officials at Calomue and Zobue border posts by May to support coordinated security operations.
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Training for defense and security personnel on the OSBP concept, bilateral agreement provisions, and scanner operations will be conducted before June.
Port Health
Agreements included:
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Procurement and installation of thermo-scanners for fever detection in travelers.
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Harmonization of yellow fever vaccine pricing.
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Procurement and installation of furniture and computers for Port Health Services.
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Training for Port Health staff from both countries on OSBP operations.
Action points:
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Furniture and computer equipment for health offices at border posts will be procured and installed by May.
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Two training sessions will be held in April and May, focusing on Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and a multi-sectoral approach to health-related border management.
The OSBP is expected to reduce clearing times for passengers and cargo, improving efficiency and lowering costs, and encourage cross-border traders to use formal routes, thereby enhancing revenue collection for both countries.
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Madam Ellen Saka, spouse to Malawi’s Consul General for the Consulate General of Malawi in Tete joined the celebrations for the international Women’s Day on 8th March, 2025.
The celebration started with the deposit of beautiful flowers in honour of the Womens and girls at the Peroes Plaza. This was led by Honorable Joana Rosa Matias Beta, Provincial Director of Gender, Children and Social Action representing His Excellency Domingos Juliasse Viola, Governor of Tete Province, representing Her Excellency Cristina de Jesus Xavier Mafumo was Honorable Lourenço Mesa Buene, Director of Provincial Social Affairs Services
The Theme of this year’s celebration was “Rights, Equality and Empowerment for all women and girls.
The Ceremony was awash with traditional dances songs of praise of the resilience of Mozambican women and girls as well as classic music from the police/Military band.
The second part of the celebrations comprised of speeches highlighting how far Mozambique have moved towards gender equality with specific examples of womens serving in high positions of decision making. Interventions were made by the Administrator of Tete District who delivered a message of Gender Unity followed by the Provincial Social Affairs Services and Provincial Director of Gender Children and Social Action, respectively representing the Secretary of State, and the Governor of the Province of Tet, land of the 6 Cs and Diversity.
International Womens Day is celebrated in numerous members states of the United Nations around the world. The day is marked by a range of activities including marches prayers, talks, campaigns and lots of exiting events aimed at raising awareness of women’s issues and pushing for gender equality.
This year’s International Women’s Day (IWD) celebration in Tete, Mozambique, was marked by a powerful call to #AccelerateAction. The event highlighted the urgent need to advance gender equality and celebrated the strides being made to empower women and girls worldwide.
The theme of this year’s IWD, Accelerate Action, emphasizes the importance of identifying and scaling up strategies, resources, and activities that positively impact women’s advancement. Despite significant barriers to gender equality, collective action and support can drive meaningful progress for women everywhere.
As gender disparities persist, the observance of the International Women’s Day serves as a crucial reminder of the work still remaining to achieve gender equality. Each year themes focusing on specific issues related to women’s rights helps to direct advocacy and actions making each observance of the international Women’s Day a potent tool for societal change.
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Last week, the newly appointed Secretary of State for Tete Province, Cristina de Jesus Xavier Mafumo, attended the opening of the II Extraordinary Session of the Provincial Assembly at the Iglu Complex in Tete City. The event was graced by the presence of His Excellency Domingos Viola, Governor of Tete Province, and marked a significant moment for collaborative governance in the region.
In her address, Cristina de Jesus expressed her full commitment and the readiness of the Council of State Representative Services to work closely with the Provincial Assembly. She emphasized the importance of coordinated efforts to drive development initiatives that benefit the communities and improve the welfare of the people of Tete.
Secretary Mafumo urged the Members of the Provincial Assembly to embrace a spirit of brotherhood, unity, and teamwork in their deliberations. She highlighted the importance of respect, concord, and the sharing of ideas as essential elements for finding effective solutions to the challenges faced by the population.
“Let us work together, guided by the principles of collaboration and mutual respect, to address the needs of the people who entrusted us with the responsibility to represent them,” she said.
The Malawi Consulate General in Tete Province congratulates Cristina de Jesus Xavier Mafumo on her recent appointment and commends her dedication to the development of Tete. We look forward to continued collaboration with the Mozambican government in promoting regional growth and strengthening bilateral ties.
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BLANTYRE ARCHDIOCES CATHOLIC WOMEM ASSOCIATION VISIT COUNTERPARTS IN ARCH DIOCESE OF TETE
A group of 34 members of the Catholic Women Association from Saint Montfort Parish visited their counterparts in Tete, reciprocating a visit that the Catholic Women Association of Tete undertook in the year 2023.The Women were accompanied by their Parish Priest Rev. Padre Nkolombidzo.
The highlights of the main Mass were Speeches by various dignitaries including the Governor of Tete Province, His Excellency Domingos Viola and the Consul General, Mr. Happy Jonathan Saka.
His Excellency Viola praised the Catholic Womens Organization of Tete and other believers in the province for their Evangelism work which when combined with Government work contributes to the transformation of communities. He also thanked the Catholic Womens Association of Malawi for their visit which took them to Songo District where they were able to see for themselves the progress of the expansion works at Matambo Hydroelectric Substation which will sustain the power line that will transport electricity to Malawi. Mozambique aims to start the work on the deployment of the power transfer to Malawi by the end of this year.
In his response the Consul General hailed the Excellent Bilateral Relations between Malawi and Mozambique which started a long time ago. He appreciated the fact that Malawians and Mozambicans are the same people the only point of contrast may be the language which will soon be history as the Government of President Dr. Lazarus Chakwere was instituted a Policy where Primary and Secondary Schools in Malawi will be teaching Portuguese. Good thing was that the Mozambicans already speak Chichewa. Mr. Saka quoted the former late President Kamuzu Banda who believed that travel is part of a critical learning process and as such appreciated that the Malawi Women travelled to Mozambique, where one of the things seen and appreciated was the Cahora Bassa Hydroelectric Power Generation in Songo District where overall impact will be the erasure of power shortage problem in Malawi. He concluded by encouraging continuation of these exchange visits as their value is appreciated by all concerned.
Coming to the crux of the exchange visits, the coordinators for the two women groups agreed that the lessons learnt were profound and far reaching. The Malawians Women were amazed that the Mozambican women were doing well even in some aspects doing better than their trainers. Note worthy was the fact that the women were taking on more responabilities in assisting the church than they were taught especially when it comes to supporting the clergy as well as its membership during bereavement. A beautiful exchange of gifts ceremony was yet another positive highlight of the visit.
The purpose of the visit was two fold: to condole their counterpart for the loss of Rev. Padre Vital Adriano Conala who passed away on 7th April, 2024 after a short illness. And secondly to reciprocate the exchange visit of Tete Diocese Catholic Women Association undertaken in 2023.
The visit took the women to the Santuary for Our Lady of Holy Conception in Zobwe. Many activities took place at the St Pauls Cathedral in Tete including prayers, various displays to showcase some traditional foods and drinks that define Mozambique people Tete in particular including some clinical services. The women Visited Songo district where besides prayers a memorial mass for Rev. Padre Vital Adriano Conala was held, a visit to the Cahora Bassa Hydroelectric Power where electricity is generated. A visit to Boroma to see the Mission of St. Joseph of Boroma where the first Seminary for Brothers is situated. An Official Dinner was at Hotel Wilkebro (Sabor Brazil where they ate, danced and fellowshipped together.
The love and friendship reflected by the women was a true reflection of the brotherly love displayed by the leadership of Malawi and Zambia.
