Mozambique

A boycott by Mozambique's opposition Renamo party of planned celebrations last Friday to mark a decade of peace has been described as "regrettable" by ruling Frelimo.

The chairman of Mozambique's Cashew Industry Association, Kekobad Patel, told AIM on Tuesday that the World Bank ought to support the Mozambican government in attempts to rescue the cashew processing industry.

After more than a year of deadlock which had put at risk national and local elections, revisions to the election laws were agreed on 20 September at a special session of parliament. The deadlock was broken after the personal intervention of Renamo head Afonso Dhlakama. This clears the way for local elections due in mid-2003.

The assassinations of journalist Carlos Cardoso on 22 November 2000, of head of banking supervision Antonio Siba-Siba Macuacua on 11 August 2001, and musician Pedro Langa on 20 November 2001 are all linked, according to a report in the Sunday newspaper Domingo on 29 September.

The government of Mozambique will receive WWF's Gift to the Earth Award for its decisions to create the Quirimbas and Bazaruto National Parks.

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