Mozambique: Government commits to paying debt to athletes by the end of March – report

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Mozambique: Government commits to paying debt to athletes by the end of March – report

3:40 CAT | 15 Feb 2024

Photo: O País

The Mozambican government has pledged to pay athletes prize money owed to them by the end of next month, after the country’s participation in the African Games in Accra, Ghana. It also recognizes that there was a lack of communication in dealing with the matter. The amount acknowledged as owing has risen from 14 to 16 million meticais.

After the athletes on Monday visited the Secretary of State for Sports to demand and explanation for the non-payment of the 14 million meticais they won, the case on Tuesday saw further developments.

The Secretary of State for Sports called the athletes to another meeting, which took place behind closed doors and lasted more than an hour. After the meeting, the parties announced the decisions taken. The government, as it has on other occasions, acknowledged the debt and justified the delay.

“We apologize to the athletes for the non-compliance. It is true that the situation the country is going through meant we had to delay payment. Sometimes, joy in some things can turn into sadness in others,” said Secretary of State for Sport Gilberto Mendes, adding that the government had originally scheduled payment of the prize monies for last year, certain that these financial obligations could be covered by the government’s budget.

Mendes promised that the government would make payment by the end of next month, after the country’s participation in the African Games, the final phase of which will be held in Accra, Ghana.

“Now, our focus is on the African Games. We are going to send 58 athletes to Accra, but we could also choose not to go to the event or reduce the delegation to pay off the debt. Now, I think this is probably not the best solution, because we are looking for sporting results,” Mendes explained.

In phases

Prize money would be paid in phases, Gilberto Mendes said, according to the events in which the athletes had participated.

READ: Mozambique: Athletes demand their rightful prizes: ‘We are also heroes of this country’

The athletes’ opinion was that it was worth putting pressure on the government, as this was the only way they could obtain clarification regarding their concerns.

“At this moment, we agree with the proposal given to us. What we are going to do is wait for payment to be made after this event,” said Osvaldo Machava, spokesperson for the athletes.

“After that, we’ll see what will result. We hope it works out for the best. We believe in the word we received, we believe in the government’s commitment. Everything was said in front of the Mozambican people,” he concluded.

Source: O País