Africa-Press – Mozambique. Mozambican authorities announced a package of 35 million meticais (€485,000) to finance 500 small and medium-sized businesses affected by the insurgency in the northern province of Cabo Delgado.
“In the area of industry and commerce, we have to highlight the creation of a credit line of 35 million meticais to benefit 500 SMEs,” once “local microcredit agencies to operationalize the process” are identified, said the director of the Provincial Service of Economy and Finance, Sidónio Passo.
The primary objective is the “recovery of economic and financial activity in the province”.
According to the same source, the short-term strategies are aimed at reopening businesses after the attacks, as well as investing in the agrarian sector, activity that guarantees subsistence as well as having commercial potential.
“To this end, in the short term, the distribution of 378 tons of seeds of various cereals, 1,100 tons of pulses, 17 tons of sesame is expected”, as well as of cassava and sweet potato.
Support also includes the distribution of agricultural tools and fertilisers, while motor boats will be delivered to fishermen affected by the insurgency as of December to enable the resumption of fishing activity.
Nineteen motor boats will benefit Ibo Island, Quissanga, Macomia, Pemba and Metuge districts.
The initiatives announced by the director of the Provincial Service for Economy and Finance have as partners the non-governmental organisation (NGO) Save the Children, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), the World Food Program (WFP) and Mozambique’s Sustainable Development Fund (FNDS).
The armed conflict between military forces and insurgents in Cabo Delgado has already cost more than 3,100 lives, according to the ACLED conflict registration project, and displaced more than 817,000, according to the Mozambican authorities.
The fight against the insurgents gained new momentum in August, with the re-taking of Mocímboa da Praia, the town where the rebels staged their first attack in October, 2017.
For More News And Analysis About Mozambique Follow Africa-Press
