SANF 05 no 28
The new government in Mozambique has unveiled an ambitious five-year plan for rapid economic expansion to improve social and rural development, and to strengthen “the national business class”.
The objective of the programme, presented by the government of President Armando Guebuza, is to reduce poverty and regional disparity, and fast-track the country toward a higher level of socio-economic prosperity.
The Assembly of the Republic begins debate on the five-year programme this week. After passing through the assembly, it will provide the framework for all annual planning and national budgets. The document was approved by the Central Committee of the ruling party, Frelimo, earlier this month.
The new plan proposes to create an environment favourable to investment and business, and “conducive to expanding the private initiative, action and investment of citizens and their institutions.”
It addresses key questions about the judiciary, corruption and the huge disparity in development between various parts of the country. Most of the economic wealth is generated and used in the capital, Maputo, in the far south of the country.
The five-year plan proposes to reduce the levels of absolute poverty in the country, “through the promotion of rapid, sustainable and wide-ranging economic growth, focusing attention on creating an environment favourable to investment and to developing the national business class.”
The government pledges to “pay greater attention to activity aimed at the accelerated and sustainable development of the rural areas, and will multiply initiatives aimed at creating wealth in the countryside, as its fundamental strategy for the struggle against poverty.”
Women “will be at the centre of attention… seeking to ensure that they enjoy equality of opportunities and rights, raising their educational level, and strengthening their role as educators of future generations.”
The plan is aimed at addressing the dichotomy in Mozambique between political decision-making – in which women hold senior positions in cabinet such as Prime Minister (she was previously the Minister of Finance and Development), Minister of Labour, and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation – and the status of women in rural areas where their literacy rate is extremely low.
The far-reaching plan which aims to address inertia in the economy and the society, says the role of the State is to encourage the growth of human capital, and of economic and social infrastructure, and to provide basic services.
In addition to poverty reduction, the five-year plan emphasises “the necessary efforts to consolidate national unity, peace and democracy; the self-esteem of citizens; the struggle against corruption and red tape; and the strengthening of national sovereignty and international cooperation.”
The plan addresses corruption directly, as a barrier to social and economic development and pledges to fight corruption “with resort to political, penal and judicial measures.”
In this planning vision for the next five years, Guebuza’s government commits itself to the independence of the judiciary, and promises to improve the quality of services provided by the administration of justice.
This includes “speedy justice for all citizens; imposition of respect for property rights and their transmission, including by inheritance; and imposition of respect for contracts.”
It also promises to revise the country’s labour legislation to ensure “greater flexibility of the labour market”. (SARDC)
