Comiche calls for “financial independence” of Maputo – Mozambique Elections, AIM report

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Comiche calls for “financial independence” of Maputo – Mozambique Elections, AIM report

7:31 CAT | 28 Sep 2018

Photo: O País

The candidate for mayor of Maputo of Mozambique’s ruling Frelimo Party, Eneas Comiche, on Wednesday declared that the financial independence of the city, freeing it from reliance on the state budget, is the best way of improving the way the municipality operates.

Comiche thus became the first candidate in the campaign for the municipal elections scheduled for 10 October to face financial issues. Other candidates, from all parties, have made grandiose promises to the voters, without indicated how their plans would be financed.

Speaking in a meeting with local business people in the KaMabukwana urban district, Comiche declared that it made no sense for Maputo to be held hostage to the central state budget, when it has the conditions “to guarantee financial sustainability”.

He said that the main actors in development are businesses, and he was sure that business people will respond to Frelimo’s call to transform Maputo into “a more beautiful, cleaner and more enterprising city”.

“Our programme will be implemented with community involvement”, Comiche added, “but there are matters related to roads, transport, sanitation among other aspects which involve businesses”.

He said Frelimo wants all citizens to have employment or self-employment that will be generated by businesses. He called on businesses to undertake more training, to publicise existing financial products and services, and to participate in tenders, as a way of promoting small and medium enterprises.

“We also want to conclude setting up services to support investors”, stressed Comiche. “Our responsibility is to simplify processes and procedures in order to establish companies”.

Left unsaid is the obvious requirement for financial independence – which is that Maputo residents and companies must pay their municipal taxes. Those that could raise most money are the municipal property tax and the tax on all businesses operating in the city. But bringing in this money requires a willingness to pay on the part of the taxpayers, and efficiency in collection by the Municipal Council.

Source: AIM