8 perish from lightning, drowning in Niassa

This rainy season in Niassa, at least 8 people to date have lost their lives in part to due to lightning strikes ,and drowning .

The fatalities took place in the course of the victims  crossing rivers or sheltering under trees in the Mandimba, Marrupa, Mavago and Mecula districts.

Maria Isabel Cavo,delegate of the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction in Niassa, made this data public during an interview by Rádio Moçambique.

Given the situation and with the approach of tropical storm GAMANE, authorities is advising the people to remove goods from riverbanks ,  in the districts of Majune, Muembe, Sanga and Lago, where the Gamane is expected to strike with great  intensity.

The delegate of the National Institute of Meteorology, in Niassa, Tomás Inácio, advices the population to take precautionary and safety measures in the the face of of lightning strikes this is in direct contrast with what the local people believe in: that a person can be struck by lightning when dressed in red, or, as a consequence of the lightning being a product of bewitchment ( by a person).

Tete: More boreholes and Water systems construction gains momentum

The ongoing construction and rehabilitation of more boreholes and other water supply systems will see at least one hundred and eight thousand people have access to clean drinking water this year in Tete province's communities in almost all districts of Tete province.Concurrently, the rehabilitation of one hundred and thirty-five damaged water holes in the various communities is underway.

The govt and partners are investing just over one hundred and nine million meticais, according to Carlos Cabo ,the head of the Water and Sanitation department at the provincial Directorate of Public Works in Tete 

Cabo also asserted that construction work on seven water supply systems is being completed in six districts of this part of the nation.

This new addition the number of water sources sees the coverage rate in Tete province go from 52, 96 percent, to 56 percent. 

Maputo March 27: Bank of Mozambique reduces the monetary interest rate from 16.50 to 15.75 percent.

COMMUNIQUÉ No. 2/2024
MONETARY POLICY COMMITTEE

The Banco de Moçambique Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decided to reduce the monetary policy rate, MIMO, from 16.50% to 15.75%. 

This decision is underpinned by the 
consolidation of prospects of single-digit inflation over the medium term, in a context where the assessment of the risks and uncertainties associated with inflation projections remain favorable.

Prospects of single-digit inflation remain unchanged over the medium term. 

In February 2024, annual inflation stood at 4.0%, foowing 4.2% in January. 
Core inflation, which excludes fruits and vegetables and administered prices also eased.

 Prospects for single-digit inflation 
remain unchanged in the medium term, mainly reflecting the stabiity of the Metical and the impact of the measures taken by the MPC.  

For the medium term, excluding liqufied natural gas (LNG), the prospects are for 
moderate economic growth.

 In the fourth quarter of 2023, gross domestic product (GDP) excluding LNG is estimated to have grown by 3.6%, following 3.3% in the previous quarter. 
Including LNG, GDP growth accelerated to 5.4%. in the medium term, excluding LNG production, economic activity is expected to continue to recover, despite uncertainties associated with the impact of climate shocks on agricultural production and various infrastructure.

Pressure on domestic public debt remains high. Domestic public debt, excluding loan and lease agreements and overdue liabilities, stands at 344.0 billion meticais, a 31.7 biion increase 
compared to December 2023.

The assessment of the risks and uncertainties associated with inflation projections remains favorable. 
Possibe factors restraining inflation in the medium term incude the fiscal consolidation efforts and a milder impact of geopolitical conflicts on the logistics supply chain and on commodity prices in the global market.

The MPC will continue with the process of normalizing the MIMO rate in the medium term. 

The pace and magnitude wil continue to depend on inflation prospects, as well as the assessment of the risks and uncertainties associated with medium term projections.

The next regular MPC meeting is scheduled for May 29, 2024

COMMUNIQUÉ No. 2/2024
Maputo, March 27, 2024
Policy rate reduced to 15.75%

Rogério Lucas Zandamela 
Governor

Source Banco de Moçambique.

Two teachers indicted for rape in Inhambane

In the coming days, two educators in Inhambane are scheduled to appear in court on charges of sexual harassment and student rape.

These are teachers from Jangamo's Basica de Macanda and Setembro 25 de Homoíne, two secondary schools.

The ages of the victims are 16 and 13, respectively.

Homoíne's student was invited by the teacher to a meeting allegedly to discuss teaching and learning issues, but when he arrived at the scene, the accused took the minor to a tourist complex where she had sexual relations with the child.

In Jangamo's case, the teacher called his student to wash dishes at his house, and then dragged her to his room, where he satisfied her sexual appetite.
The Provincial Prosecutor's Office in Inhambane spokeswoman, Juliana Boa, expressed assurance that the office will continue with investigating allegations of sexual harassment in the province's schools. 

Inhambane's "the dance of polygamy" is revived by Casimiro Nhussi

The ballet "Polygamy Dance" will premiere on April 19th, at 5 p.m., at the Eduardo Mondlane Industrial and Commercial Institute in Inhambane. The concert, created by VINA Produções, is part of the celebrations of World Dance Day, held yearly on April 29th.

Casimiro Nhussi wrote and artistically directed "The Dance of Polygamy," which premiered in Maputo in 2023, with the goal of exploring the variety of performing arts in theatre, poetry, music, and, most importantly, dance.
"The Dance of Polygamy" offers a discourse on a cultural phenomena of African descent that endures in modern society through the body, representation, and orality.

The ballet will be performed on a gala evening that aims to unite the artists' thoughts and viewpoints on polygamy on stage, both historically and contemporary.

According to Casimiro Nhussi, “The Dance of Polygamy is a rain of melodic movements, of deep feelings that carry the strange emotions of husbands and wives. The Dance of Polygamy is a song and is a love poem trapped in the web of emotions of a human being. It sings the religious and cultural songs of the traditions of a people, it can be danced emotionally or intellectually.”

The ballet also seeks to influence an understanding of the impacts of Polygamy on the promotion of fundamental human rights, look at possible conflicts between tradition, law and gender, as well as reflect on the place of tradition in current society in Mozambique.

The Dance of Polygamy is a shower of beautiful motions and intense emotions that convey the peculiar experiences that spouses and partners experience, according to Casimiro Nhussi. A song and love poetry enmeshed in a person's emotional web is called "The Dance of Polygamy." It can be danced emotionally or intellectually and sings the religious and cultural songs of a people's traditions.

In addition, the ballet aims to examine potential tensions between tradition, law, and gender as well as the role that tradition plays in Mozambique's contemporary society. It also aims to promote awareness of the effects of polygamy on the advancement of fundamental human rights.

Flooding in Matola

Families in various neighbourhoods of Matola, the province of Maputo, leave their homes and spend the night outside.

The Fomento neighborhood's drainage ditch, which gathers rainfall from nearby neighbourhoods, overflowed and filled with debris, making life unbearable for the locals.

Warning: Rainfall in the country's southern area is expected to continue.

A cold frontal system that passes over the country's southern region is expected to bring on more rain, according to the National Institute of Meteorology (INAM).

Forecasts indicate that rain will continue for the next 12 to 24 hours, according to meteorologist Telmo Sumila.

Nevertheless beginning from Tuesday, the southern part of the nation should have better weather, according to INAM.

The province and city of Maputo have seen rainfall totaling about 150 millimetres in the past 24 hours, which is regarded as a significant quantity given the soil's absorption capabilities in this region of the nation.