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Mozambique: Nyusi “softens” state of emergency at end of “atypical” year – Watch
4:29 CAT | 18 Dec 2020
Photo: TVM
- Mozambique’s President Filipe Nyusi has announced the new Covid-19 state of emergency measures taking effect from next Saturday. A moderate reopening of social life is planned.
In his end-of-year address to the nation, President Nyusi updated the state of public emergency measures to come into force this Saturday (19-12). Tourism, commerce, school education and social life are sectors which have been “softened” towards the end of this year.
“For all passengers arriving in the country, the deadline for submitting proof of negative test results to Covid-19, which has been carried out in the country of origin, goes from 72 hours to 96,” he revealed.
Resumption of tourist activity
The head of state added that “the issuance of border visas for tourism purposes will be resumed …”. This measure will allow crew and passengers of tourist cruise ships to leave the port area, provided that they observe “all measures of sanitary protocol for Covid-19”.
Nyusi said that, to facilitate the movement of passengers at the Ressano Garcia and Namaacha border crossing points in Maputo, the authorities will coordinate with the South African government the reopening of the crossing point at Ponta de Ouro.
Markets “earn” an extra hour of trade
The maximum number of participants at private events will increase from 40 to 50 people, if they are held in closed or semi-open spaces. This number may be extended to 150 people if events take place outdoors and provided that social distance and compliance with the preventive measures to Covid-19 are guaranteed.
The closing time of the markets is put back.
In the context of private education, President Nyusi authorised the resumption of classes in pre-school and primary and secondary education using the foreign curriculum. The application of this measure will depend on the evolution of the country’s epidemic situation and on the recommendations of the sector overseeing the health and pre-school areas.
Moderate reopening of social life
The head of state also announced other relaxation measures, namely in the social and commercial sectors.
“The practice of sports in open spaces is authorized. The reopening of bars, ‘barracas’ and kiosks is also allowed from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. from Sunday to Friday, and from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.”
The measures announced this Thursday (17-12) may be changed depending on the evolution of the pandemic, always allowing for the confinement or de-confinement of individual regions.
In his end of the year address to the nation, Filipe Nyusi described 2020 as a “truly atypical” year, as a consequence of the cyclones that hit the country, the health and economic impact of Covid-19, and the armed violence in the centre and north of the country.
In the pros and cons, the president stressed that the country continued the process of disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of Renamo combatants and the beginning of the new decentralised governance paradigm.
2021 brings hope for economic recovery
The president also said that Mozambique expects to enter 2021 with windows of opportunities which must be capitalised on so as to boost the productive sector and stimulate the economy. Nyusi mentioned the recovery of the world economy, while domestically, the president hopes for a gradual recovery in tourism, in addition to increasing agricultural production.
“We hope to achieve an economic growth of 2.1% in 2021 and maintain single digit average annual inflation of around 5%”, he concluded.
Source: Deutsche Welle
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