Mozambique: Nyusi demands reforms in transport and communications sector – Watch

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Mozambique: Nyusi demands reforms in transport and communications sector – Watch

8:00 CAT | 14 Jun 2022

Photo: TVM

President Nyusi challenged Mateus Magala to restructure all public companies under the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
Mateus Magala was tasked with designing an incisive plan to monetize assets such as Nacala Airport.

Mateus Magala is the new man at the helm of the Ministry of Transport and Communications. At his inauguration, President Nyusi spoke about the complexity of the sector, and especially its relevance for the functioning of the national economy.

President Nyusi wants to see all public companies involved in Transport and Communications restructured, and urged the newly sworn-in Minister of Transport and Communications to create solutions for road mobility, as well as to develop a mass transportation system in the country.

Nyusi was speaking this Tuesday morning at the inauguration of Mateus Magala as Minister of Transport and Communications and of António Saíde as Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy.

“In the Transport and Communications sector, one of the constraints is the difficulty Mozambicans face getting to various places for lack of access to road, rail, air and maritime means,” the president observed.

He stressed that reliable and safe transportation was critical for children to get to school on time, for young people to fulfil their obligations and get to know their country, for citizens to get to work and for traders to deliver goods and services all over the country.

Nyusi also spoke of the need to make state-owned companies in the transport and communications sector profitable, through the resizing of assets.

“We urge Minister Magala to have a more incisive plan for the resizing of assets, some of which are not fully used, as is the case of Nacala Airport, and the review of the entire strategic line of services and products to be offered, placing the primacy of economic and financial sustainability as the compass of management action. The achievement of this objective depends on prudence in the objectives related to investments and disinvestments, in line with the optimisation of the capital structure in order to synchronise financial liabilities with the ability to release operational liquid resources,” President Nyusi said.

The restructuring plan should be accompanied by an internal and external audit mechanism and transparency in the management of public affairs.

Filipe Nyusi also wants to boost maritime freight transport.

“The sector does not take advantage of our extensive maritime coast and of port infrastructure with a potential for commercial connection with hinterland countries,” the president observed. “You are welcome to getting involved in this matter; we are here to support you in order to develop synergies. An operational and developed cabotage [coastal shipping] can be a real alternative to rail and road transport.”

Road accidents and INATRO malfunctions were also mentioned in the head of state’s comments to the new minister.

Reacting to the guidelines offered by the president, Mateus Magala said that he wanted to transform Transport and Communications into a truly economic sector.

“A well-structured process will allow us to work with civil society and all the stakeholders to solve the problems of transport and communications and make this sector a genuine economy, one which generates quality jobs and income and which transforms Mozambique into a developed country,” the newly sworn-in Minister of Transport and Communications said.

One of the challenges laid down for the Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, António Saíde, is to ensure compliance with the “Energy for All Program” and guarantee universal access to this resource, using knowledge and experience on renewable energies.

Watch the TVM report.