Covid-19: Mozambican NGO demands information on funds from international partners

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Covid-19: Mozambican NGO demands information on funds from international partners

1:40 CAT | 05 Apr 2022

File photo: Lusa

Mozambican non-governmental organisation the Centre for Public Integrity (Centro de Integridade Pública (CIP) yesterday demanded that the government prepare and publish a balance sheet report on the use of funds allocated by partners to tackle Covid-19 in Mozambique.

“The Ministry of Economy and Finance must prepare and publish the balance report on the use of Covid-19 funds, presenting detailed information on the amounts disbursed and their execution (specifying the sectors and places of application),” reads a note distributed by the organisation.

At issue is the request for a total of US$700 million (€637 million at current exchange rates) presented by the Mozambican government to international partners on March 23, 2020, an amount which would serve to cover the fiscal deficit caused by the pandemic in the 2020 State Budget (OE), as well as to finance the fight against the disease and support the poorest.

According to the CIP, which cites a report from the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Mozambique had, by January 2021, received 95% of the requested amount and, according to the NGO, had spent 55% of the funds received, at least according to documents made available by the Mozambican executive.

“By January 2021, 55.89% had been executed, that is, only US$373 million [€339 million], with US$294 million [€267 million] remaining to be executed at the date in question,” the CIP document notes.

The NGO asks about the destination of the remaining fund, demanding from the government a balance sheet detailing the sectors in which the funds were applied.

“In addition, the Administrative Tribunal is urged, as auditor of the State’s accounts, to audit the accounts and the sectors that receive disbursements from partners, specifically in relation to the Pandemic Response Plan,” the CIP note finally demands.

Source: Lusa