Português
WASHINGTON — The Mozambican Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation guarantees that her Government’s priority at the moment is to ensure the liberation and reconstruction of localities and infrastructures destroyed by insurgents in Cabo Delgado province and the return of displaced people.
In an interview with VOA, Verónica Macamo stated that the case of hidden debts does not deter investments from the country due to the ongoing judgment, which demonstrates transparency, and that the length of stay of troops from Rwanda and the Community for the Development of Southern Africa ( SADC) in Cabo Delgado will depend on the analysis of the situation on the ground.
“What was agreed with both Rwanda and SADC is that time would be seen depending on availability on the ground, but what I can say is that we are working with the European Union, with the United States, with other countries to the formation of our armed forces and enable them to be in a position to defend the populations and the territory against terrorism”, says Macamo, adding that, as he knows, “so far there is no such position”.
During her stay in New York where she participated in the United Nations General Assembly, the head of the Mozambican diplomacy maintained contacts with the American Government and with businessmen from the United States, in the search for investments in the country.
Hidden debts and foreign investment
At these meetings, she claims to have highlighted the ongoing fiscal reform to attract investment and recalls that “there is a lot to invest in, in agriculture, fisheries, industry, infrastructure, tourism, a land that offers many opportunities.”
Questioned, Macamo assures that the case of hidden debts, which damaged the country in about US$2.2 billion, does not call into question foreign investment in Mozambique.
“If I were an investor, I would think that in a country where there is public judgment, where everything goes out to be known, it is in fact the best place to invest. I think the trial will draw conclusions, draw conclusions about what happened, we are interested in this, and will take the measures in accordance with the legal provisions, so it does not seem to be a problem”, assures the minister, who stressed that committed to “economic diplomacy”.
In the interview, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation confirms that she has received a lot of support for Mozambique’s candidacy for non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council in 2023, “where we can bring our experience in conflict resolution”, marks the position of its Government in advocating for more vaccines, through freedom of rights and production in Africa, as well as equitable distribution, and addresses the Executive’s campaign to obtain resources to finance Cabo Delgado’s recovery plan, budgeted at US$300 million.
