Mozambique ambassador says debate can solve country’s problems
The strengthening of democracy and economic stability, continued Griffiths, are difficult processes, but the country must promote competition to achieve prosperity
The outgoing US ambassador to Mozambique, Douglas Griffiths, said today that Mozambique cannot underestimate the economic uncertainty and political challenges in 2016, advocating a more inclusive debate on solving the country’s problems, reports The Mozambican Investor on the online site, Club of Mozambique.
Griffiths referred to the main challenges facing Mozambique in a speech distributed to the press, marking the end of his mission in the country.
“The economic uncertainty and political challenges cannot be underestimated. Your future is, however, conditioned by honesty in recognising the sources of challenges for the inclusion of all elements of society in the search for solutions and the openness to the next generation,” said the diplomat.
“The strengthening of democracy and economic stability, continued Griffiths, are difficult processes, but the country must promote competition to achieve prosperity.
“All Mozambicans have a voice in the future of the country. Democracy is hard, but in the economy and in politics, competition generates better results,” Griffiths believes.
The outgoing ambassador urged the implementation of public policies that generate benefits for the whole population, stressing the need for transparency in the management of public resources.
“The fastest way to economic success is more easily found in the opening of small and medium-sized enterprises, young entrepreneurs and foreign companies than the barriers erected by complicated, excessive and costly regulations,” Griffiths said.
Mozambique is experiencing a difficult economic situation, characterised by a sharp devaluation of the national currency against the dollar, made worse by the drop in prices of the country’s main exports.
Politically, the country’s main opposition party, Renamo (Mozambique National Resistance) is threatening to seize power in the six provinces in the centre and north of the country in which it claimed victory in the general elections on October 15 last year, creating a stand-off with the government over its demands for the creation of autonomous municipalities in the provinces concerned.
