Mozambique: ‘December factor’ kicks in, Covid violations, Ceres apple juice and other news from INAE’s weekly brief – Carta

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Mozambique: ‘December factor’ kicks in, Covid violations, Ceres apple juice and other news from INAE’s weekly brief – Carta

7:53 CAT | 09 Dec 2021

Picture: Carta

The National Inspectorate of Economic Activities (INAE) says that the price of some basic products has already started to rise in Mozambique, with emphasis on the price of vegetables. The rains that have fallen in recent weeks are cited as the main reason, according to INAE spokesperson Tomás Timba.

Speaking at a press conference this Tuesday, Timba reported that, between November 15th and December 5th, the INAE had inspected 1,784 economic units across the country, and found gatherings in bars and restaurants for the consumption alcoholic beverages, as well lack of compliance with operating hours.

“Agglomerates, at the level of event halls, especially at weddings and private ceremonies, have been one of the constant findings, and have tended to worsen. Clusters have also been one of the big problems, at a time when a new Covid-19 variant has already been seen in the country,” Timba explained.

Timba said that inspection teams had found poorly preserved food products, as well as the sale of illegally imported chicken, especially in Vilankulo district, Inhambane province, where 190 chickens were seized.

INAE also says it has told 149 bottle stores operating in the vicinity of schools across the country to change their activities or address, as the sale of alcoholic beverages near schools is prohibited.

Seventeen parties, taking place without the slightest observance of Covid-19 prevention measures in the cities of Matola, Maputo, Inhambane and Nampula, were also raided. “Some of these events had 600 people attending,” Timba said, mentioning the possibility of revoking the licenses of the promoters of the events.

In Nampula province, around 20 economic units were suspended due to speculation in the price of cement. They were selling the product at 630 meticais for a 50 kg bag, the price of which had already dropped to 550 meticais.

The INAE says it already has the laboratory results of the 200 ml Ceres apple juice imported from neighbouring South Africa , whose consumption has been banned since mid-November. These will be published as soon as the results of the tests carried out in Maputo allow a comparison of the two reports.

To date, only 821 boxes of the juice have been incinerated, out of a universe of 2,000 that were on the market. The juice boxes were collected at markets in Maputo and Inhambane provinces.

By Marta Afonso

Source: Carta de Moçambique