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Despite a severe drought during 2002 and floods that hit
the country in 2000 and 2001, causing hundreds of
millions of dollars worth of damage, Mozambique’s
economy grew
by 8% in 2002. President Chissano was
encouraged by the performance of the economy, even though
it reflected a slowdown from the 12% growth in 2001.
“Despite the effect of drought, our economy performed
well throughout the year,” he announced. He ascribed the
good performance to the country’s healthy political,
social and economic situation, which has facilitated the
swift recovery since the launch of the economic
structural adjustment programme after the end of the
civil war in 1992.
In an effort to maintain the economic growth Mozambique
and Denmark have signed a memorandum of agreement for
further cooperation in the area of agriculture,
particularly for the National Agriculture Development
Programme (PROAGRI). PROAGRI has received the bulk (129
million crowns) of the 278 million crowns provided for
development. The programme will use the funds to develop
production and research activities at central level in
three provinces: Tete, Manica and Cabo Delgado. The rest
of the funds will be spent on road rehabilitation,
supporting the private sector in agriculture, covering
studies and programme management, amongst other things.
To fully realise its economic and social potential and
rebuild key infrastructure (schools, health units, water
supply sources), Mozambique faces the costly challenge
of clearing extensive areas of landmines. At a meeting
between the government’s National Demining Institute (IND)
and its cooperation partners, the Foreign Minister
stressed that demining was a major government priority.
Landmines hidden in the country’s soil hinder the free
movement of people and goods, the resettlement of groups
such as
flood victims, and the rehabilitation of social
and economic infrastructures.
Nine million square metres of land were cleared and over
11 500 mines and other explosives destroyed in 2002, the
first year of a five-year plan of action against mines.
There are still over 1 374 areas throughout the country
suspected of containing minefields that need to be
surveyed –
an expensive task requiring US $10 million to
complete.
The IND will use the money to decentralise and
set up regional delegations to coordinate clearing land
and destroying mines and explosives in an effective
relationship between provincial governments and demining
operators. |
