Barcelona. A normal bakery:
Maputo:
It happenned in September 2010. They were protesting for a 30% increase in the bread price. Can you believe that? They were overreacting. A roll of bread costs less than 20 cents USD, peanuts! From the pictures you can deduct they were a very well organized group, probably financed by international terrorists.
Anyway, people from Mozambique should not protest. Its true that its annual GDP per capita is only 1.000 USD (but more than enough to buy 6.000 bread rolls epr year) and that 70% of the population lives below poverty line according to CIA Factbook:
but the international community is helping them. Let's see two examples:
1)
13/07/2007. Washington, D.C. In a signing ceremony today at the State Departments Benjamin Franklin room, Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, Ambassador John Danilovich, and Mozambican Minister of Development and Planning Aiuba Cuereneia signed a $506.9 million Compact designed to reduce poverty in Mozambique by promoting sustainable economic growth.
Ambassador Danilovich added, President Guebuzas leadership was instrumental in producing a program that will help the poor in Mozambique build a better life for themselves and their children. Mozambique is a valued partner in the fight against poverty and we look forward to continuing our dynamic partnership as Mozambicans begin to implement this ambitious plan.
2) The energy plant (Cahora Bassa Hydroelectric Dam)
On November 27, 2007 Mozambique assumed control of an electric plant from Portugal. Mozambique paid almost 800.000.000 USD to Portugal, the deal financed by international banks lead by the French Caylon (Credit Agricole) and the Portuguese BPI. The deal works as:
French and Portuguese banks get deposits from their customers in France or Portugal (or other West countries)
The banks lend funds to Mozambique (to be repaid with interest of course)
Mozambique pays cash to Portugal with the funds lent by the banks
Portugal delivers the full property of the plant to Mozambique (the plant has not moved from Mozambique since it was constructed in 1970)
Mozambique sells energy to South Africa
South Africa pays for the energy to Mozambique
Mozambique pays back the interests and the loan to the banks
The banks pay back to their investors
The banks lend funds to Mozambique (to be repaid with interest of course)
Mozambique pays cash to Portugal with the funds lent by the banks
Portugal delivers the full property of the plant to Mozambique (the plant has not moved from Mozambique since it was constructed in 1970)
Mozambique sells energy to South Africa
South Africa pays for the energy to Mozambique
Mozambique pays back the interests and the loan to the banks
The banks pay back to their investors
This is plain globalization, and at the same time poverty is reduced in Mozambique (dont' ask how, it's evident)
Conclusion: Be relaxed and do not worry about poverty in Africa. When you open a bank acount, even without knowing it, you are probably helping to reduce it.
Well, there are always malicious sources, as for example it's commented in a cable from Maputo Embassy (wikileaks):
The source describes President Guebuza, who he has known and befriended for the past twenty years as a "vicious scorpion who will sting you" He cautions that FRELIMO (the political party of the president) is not interested in bettering the life of Mozambique's citizens, but rather its self-enrichment.
In the licit economy, the ruling party, FRELIMO, and MBS (a "friend" of the president) work in tandem to control the legal and illegal economies and restrict the space for private sector growth by demanding a cut of all significant business transactions. In the illicit economy, MBS dominates money laundering and drug transshipment. One new area that Guebuza appears to be interested in is the gaming industry.He said that Guebuza is in on almost all of the "mega-project" multi-million dollar deals via contractual stipulations to work with the Mozambican private sector
Guebuza's business interests in Mozambique are legion. One example is Guebuza's involvement in the 2007 purchase of Cahora Bassa Hydroelectric Dam (HCB) from the Portuguese Government for $950 million. $700 million of this was paid by a private consortium of banks, which was arranged by a Guebuza proxy, for which Guebuza received, while he was a sitting president, an estimated commission of between $35 and $50 million. The Portuguese bank which arranged the financing turned over its shares in BCI Fomento, one of the largest Mozambican commercial banks, to a Guebuza-controlled company
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