· July, 2010

Stories about Mozambique from July, 2010

Mozambique/Brazil: “Ethanol diplomacy” meets criticism

  22 July 2010

NGOs furiously denounced last week's trilateral accord between Brazil, Mozambique and the European Union promoting ethanol production in Mozambique for the European market. The blogsphere provides some background to this "ethanol diplomacy" and questions its future social and environmental impacts.

Mozambique: Parties, citizens and state tussle over properties

  17 July 2010

In Beira, a city known for its opposition to ruling party Frelimo, a conflict has ensued over a number of houses called “neighborhood centers”. At issue is whether they are state or political party property. When police have gone to enforce controversial court orders, neighborhood dwellers have resisted, reports Carlos...

Brazil: Lusophone Countries United at the Theater Stage

  16 July 2010

For the first time in Brazil, theater groups from East Timor and Sao Tome & Principe will present plays at the FESTLIP (Festival of Portuguese Language) [pt]. The festival taking place in Rio de Janeiro, also includes plays from all the other lusophone states: Cape Verde, Mozambique, Angola, Guinea-Bissau, Portugal...

Equatorial Guinea: Portuguese as its Third Official Language

  14 July 2010

An online petition [pt] against the entry of Equatorial Guinea to the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) has been launched by Portuguese and Mozambican organizations. Brazil and São Tomé & Príncipe [pt] support President Obiang intentions. In case the country is accepted, Portuguese will become its third official language...

Mozambique: Fallout from US blacklisting

  13 July 2010

Last month, the US Treasury listed Mozambican businessman Mohamed Bachir for alleged links to drug trade, freezing some of his assets. Roughly 700 other people are listed worldwide. Bachir owns Maputo Shopping Center and is politically well connected. Blog Ma-shamba analyzes the impacts [Pt]. Rapper Azagaia recorded “Arrrrri!” in response, and has...

Mozambique: Rapper Takes a Stand on Homosexuality

  2 July 2010

In a post titled Gayism is sinful[pt], Mozambican rapper Azagaia takes a stand on homosexuality: he defends “equal rights and opportunities for all Men. (…) No matter which sexual orientation”. Though the subject is rarely discussed in the southern Africa region, there is a debate tonight about “Sexual Orientation and...