Africa-Press – Mozambique. Minister of Industry and Commerce Carlos Mesquita said on Tuesday that the armed violence in Cabo Delgado had cost micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the province an estimated 42 million meticais (€563,000).
“We have about 4,965 micro, small and medium companies destroyed, of which 295 are industrial units, 4,500 from the commerce area and 166 service providers. And here we have an appreciation of around 42 million meticais,” declared Carlos Mesquita, quoted yesterday by Radio Mozambique.
In addition to damage to companies, armed attacks in northern districts of the province over the past four years destroyed hundreds of homes and infrastructure, paralysing various state services and forcing thousands to flee the areas affected by rebel incursions.
“It is obvious that we cannot account for the social and human damage that this has had,” Minister Mesquita added.
In this scenario, which demonstrates multiple needs for humanitarian support, the Mozambican government presented a Reconstruction Plan for Cabo Delgado, following the positive results of military operations in recent months, with the support of Rwanda and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
The plan was approved last week by the Mozambican government is budgeted at US$300 million (€256 million), with approximately US$200 million (€170 million) being earmarked for the implementation of short-term actions, according to the Mozambican prime minister, Carlos Agostinho do Rosário.
