Mozambique: INAE suspends cement factory in Matola

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Mozambique: INAE suspends cement factory in Matola

12:05 CAT | 09 Sep 2020

Photo: O País

Between August 19 and September 5, the National Inspection of Economic Activities (INAE), in coordination with other governmental institutions, inspected 2,320 commercial establishments, noting a stability in food prices and some problems in the sale of cement.

Despite the fact that food prices were stable in the period under analysis, the INAE seized out-of-date products worth about 30,000 meticais.

Tomás Timba, spokesman for INAE, says there is great concern about the quality of the cement produced in the country.

“Some factories do not have internal testing laboratories to be able to test their cement, and this puts the lives of all of us at risk”, informs Timba.

And this was one of the reasons that led to the suspension of activities at a cement factory in Matola where, in addition to the lack of a laboratory for quality control, the cement produced was not certified.

Timba’s assessment goes further and says there are aspects that make it difficult to inspect this particular market.

“What we understand is that there should be clarification about who is a distributor, who is a wholesaler and who is a retailer … this would make it easier for all of us, in controlling the cement marketing market,” he said.

It was also found that the majority of retailers do not display the price of their cement, indicative of intention to charge prices well above those recommended by the producer.

In the context of the gradual easing of Covid-19 restrictive measures, 126 gyms were also inspected, with only 87 meeting the conditions necessary for reopening.

Speaking at a press conference, Timba appealed to people to remain calm and not make excessive purchases, noting that high demand favoured opportunism on the part of retailers.

By Velsoma Cumbana

Source: O País