Malpass: A World Bank president visits Mozambique for the first time in 11 years

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Malpass: A World Bank president visits Mozambique for the first time in 11 years

3:40 CAT | 03 May 2019

Photo: Notícias

Twenty-three days after taking office as president of the World Bank Group, US economist David Malpass arrived on Thursday in Mozambique and met President Nyusi at the end of the afternoon. At the one-hour meeting, the two leaders reviewed a number of human development programmes funded by the World Bank and talked about assisting victims of Cyclone Idai.

But decisions on financial aid from the World Bank to Mozambique will only be announced in Maputo this afternoon after a short visit to Beira, the city worst hit by Cyclone idai.

“I had a warm welcome from the president (of the Republic) and I expressed my condolences to the Mozambican people for the calamities that have devastated the country. We talked about ongoing efforts in terms of assistance. I will travel to Beira to assess the damage and the reconstruction process. The World Bank is present in the ongoing assistance process, but also in Mozambique’s long-term development process,” Malpass explained in a short statement to the press.

The leader of the world’s largest multilateral financial institution expressed the Bank’s interest in pursuing a number of human development programmes, some of which were discussed at the meeting with the head of state.

After the meeting in the Presidency of the Republic, the president of the World Bank had a private working dinner with President Nyusi, Minister of Economy and Finance Adriano Maleiane and the governor of the Bank of Mozambique, Rogério Zandamela.

First visit to Mozambique of a World Bank President in 11 years

Before coming to Mozambique, David Malpass visited Madagascar and Ethiopia. He leaves for Egypt, the final destination of his first Africa tour, today.

David Malpass is the only president of the World Bank to visit Mozambique in the last 11 years, and came to Maputo to announce financial aid that the country so badly needs. Notwithstanding this, his meeting with the head of state was postponed from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. because Filipe Nyusi had a “loaded agenda”.

In the afternoon, the President of the Republic crossed Maputo Bay for a meeting of the Frelimo youth wing (OJM) in Catembe. Nyusi left there after 4:00 p.m., already late for his meeting with David Malpass. At 4:20 p.m., press in the Presidency were informed that the meeting was adjourned to 7:00 p.m., because the President was first to participate in the launch of MP Edson Macuácua’s book, ‘The Constitutional Amendment of 2018 and Decentralisation’, and only after that would he receive the President of the World Bank. The justification given was that the launch ceremony guests were waiting for the arrival of the head of state to start the activities.

But 30 minutes later, the Presidency reconvened journalists still in the area for the meeting between the head of state and the president of the World Bank, which began around 5:00 p.m.. “You are being called,” a presidential official announced. “The meeting will happen now and not at 7:00 p.m..” Only after the meeting with David Malpass did Filipe Nyusi go to the Edson Macuácua’s book launch ceremony.

ALSO READ: The new president of the World Bank David Malpass is in Beira, Mozambique – Photos

Formerly a senior US Treasury official, David Malpass was proposed for the presidency of the World Bank by Donald Trump, and was confirmed by the institution’s executive board on April 5. Four days later, Trump’s former Undersecretary for International Affairs and trusted man took over the leadership of the bank for a period of five years.

When Trump proposed Malpass as the bank’s president in February, the international press described the preference as a sign of the US government’s interest in having greater control of the institution. “He has fought to ensure that funding is focused on places and projects that really need help, including people living in extreme poverty,” Trump said in announcing his choice at the White House, quoted by the Business Times newspaper. In 2017, Malpass criticised the Bank’s continued lending to China, arguing that the world’s second largest economy was too wealthy to merit such aid.

Robert Bruce Zoellick, who served as World Bank president from 2007 to 2012, made a four-day visit to Mozambique in February 2008, when Armando Guebuza was president and Luisa Diogo the Prime Minister.

Before Malpass, Jim Yong Kim was President of the World Bank (from 2012-2019).

By Emídio Beúla

Climate-resilient infra is critical for disaster recovery: WBG supported 11 km of drainage canals & flood control that prevented #Beira from flooding during Cyclone Idai. Related solar-power street lighting only power source during part of the crisis #BuildBackBetter #Mozambique pic.twitter.com/gEDrjZu55O

— David Malpass (@DavidMalpassWBG) May 3, 2019

Thank you #Mozambique Disaster Relief Agency (INGC) & @UNOCHA for your leadership in massive relief operation post Cyclones Idai & Kenneth & to all donor countries for support & cooperation – 1 month after Idai ~1M people received food assistance, clean water & cholera vaccines. pic.twitter.com/tODsKRZvYY

— David Malpass (@DavidMalpassWBG) May 3, 2019

Pleased to meet @FNyusi to discuss how @WorldBank @IFC_org can help #Mozambique not only on crisis response & reconstruction after cyclones Idai and Kenneth, but also on broader growth agenda, incl. education, inclusion & private sector. We grieve with the people of Mozambique. pic.twitter.com/LmRdKMOw8k

— David Malpass (@DavidMalpassWBG) May 3, 2019

Source: O País / worldbank.org