Government to explain debt in committee only, not in plenary session – Canalmoz

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Government to explain debt in committee only, not in plenary session – Canalmoz

7:32 CAT | 13 May 2016

O País / The standing Comittee in session on Monday, May 9 2016

The parliamentary Standing Committee decided on Monday to mandate the Committees on Planning and Budget and Defence and Security to conduct consultation sessions on public debt with the government.

Disclosure of debts of US$1.4 billion dollars (EUR1.25 billion) contracted in 2013 and 2014 off the public accounts led the International Monetary Fund to suspend cooperation with Mozambique, and it is suspected that there could be more money owing but so far undisclosed. The G14 donor group, World Bank and the United Kingdom have also suspended financial support.

Canalmoz reports that by choosing to explain the debts in committee, the government wants to avoid direct confrontation with opposition deputies in parliament.

The opposition has steadfastly demanded that the government, and especially the instigators of the debts themselves, present themselves in parliament to answer questions, a course which Frelimo has a strong aversion to. With donors increasing pressure, Frelimo hopes to find a way out of its bind by taking the matter to committees and exhausting it there.

Renamo having chosen not to be present, the Frelimo and MDM Standing Committee members decided that, after hearing the government, the Planning and Budget and Defence and Security committees would produce reports to be presented for discussion at the plenary session of parliament.

No extraordinary sitting is expected to be needed, and according to Standing Committee spokesperson Matteus Kathupa, the issue of the country’s public debt will be the first point to be debated when the parliament reconvenes on June 22.

MDM wants clarification on mass grave in Manica

In Monday’s session, the head of the MDM group in parliament Lutero Simango said that parliament should decide for itself on the existence of any alleged mass graves in Manica, which, if proven to exist, would constitute a gross violation of human rights.

To this end, the Standing Committee instructed the Committee on Constitutional Affairs, Human Rights and Legality to start working in order to allow parliament to take a responsible position within its constitutional prerogatives.

Speaking at a press conference, Simango said he hoped that the Commission headed by Frelinmo deputy Edson Macuácua would carry out the task with “responsibility, integrity and impartiality”.

Simango said that he would continue to monitor both the mass grave and debt accountability matters closely.

Source: Canalmoz