Mozambique: Companies worried about possible circulation of fake documents after lootings

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Mozambique: Companies worried about possible circulation of fake documents after lootings

3:05 CAT | 10 Jan 2025

FILE - For illustration purposes only. [File photo: Lusa]

Several Mozambican companies are concerned about the circulation of fake documents after looting on 25 December during post-election demonstrations, reporting the loss of documents and stamps, and calling for their verification.

These companies have been publishing notices asking customers and other interested parties to confirm any documents that may circulate in the coming days.

Businesses report that, during the looting and vandalism that followed the proclamation of theOctober elections’ results, “confidential documents”, contacts, letterhead and stamps were taken.

“We warn that, in the coming days, fake documents may be circulating in our name,” reads one such notice, published this Friday by the Maputo Grain Terminal, vandalized on 25 December. Another announcement by MEREC Industries, whose MEREC Machava and MEREC Socimol units were looted, is similar.

“To guarantee their authenticity, we ask that all documents received be validated in advance,” states another notice, also published today by the Espiga D’Ouro.

The Confederation of Economic Associations (CTA) told Lusa on December 30 that, according to its estimates, more than 500 companies were vandalized during the post-election demonstrations in Mozambique, and at least 12,000 people are now consequently unemployed.

“The vandalized companies are located mainly in Maputo province, where most of the country’s industrial fabric is located,” Onório Manuel, vice-president of the CTA Industry Department told Lusa.

According to Manuel, more than 12,000 Mozambicans are currently out of work due to the closure of these companies and, if the situation continues, more people could lose their jobs.

“We are talking about the largest food industries in the country (…) which have equipment damaged if not their infrastructures completely destroyed. (…) We will have a shortage of products and, probably, a galloping increase in prices,” explained Manuel, adding that the number of business owners considering closing their doors due to insecurity is increasing.

READ: Post-electoral: Looted companies close, leaving over 12,000 Mozambicans unemployed

On 23 December of last year, the CC declared ruling party Frelimo’s candidate Daniel Chapo the winner of the election for President of the Republic, with 65.17% of the vote, succeeding Filipe Nyusi in office, as well as confirming Frelimo’s success in maintaining its parliamentary majority in the general elections of 9 October.

This announcement immediately led to clashes, with the destruction of public and private property, demonstrations, strikes and looting, but in the last week, with no new calls for protests, the situation has returned to normal throughout the country.

Since October 21 of last year, almost 300 people have died and nearly 600 have been shot in protests against the Mozambican electoral process mounted by supporters of Venâncio Mondlane, who does not recognize the results,

Source: Lusa