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Pemba Municipal Council has defended contracts signed with the Pemba Municipal Company (EMCP), which are currently under scrutiny by prosecutors over suspected conflicts of interest and possible irregularities in direct-award procurement procedures.
In a statement, the municipal executive led by Satar Abdulgani said the creation of the municipal company and the acquisition of equipment were intended to provide the municipality with its own resources to respond more quickly to the deterioration of urban roads.
The planned equipment includes trucks and road-paving machinery.
The municipality argues that direct procurement was used under an emergency provision allowed by law, citing the need for urgent intervention ahead of the rainy season and to prevent further risks to road traffic and safety.
The Municipal Council also responded to questions regarding the registration of the mayor as the beneficial owner of the public company.
According to the municipality, the registration resulted from a legal requirement and does not mean that the mayor owns the company or is entitled to any personal financial benefit.
The municipality also said it remains fully available to cooperate with judicial and oversight authorities in clarifying the case.
Despite the explanations provided, the contracts remain under review by prosecutors, keeping questions over transparency and the management of public funds in Pemba Municipality under public scrutiny.
**At least 64 people have been killed and more than 80 injured following a collision between two high-speed trains in Spain's Toledo province on Wednesday, October 28. The accident, involving 544 passengers, caused several carriages to derail and prompted the suspension of rail services between Madrid and Andalusia.
**Mozambique's instant payment system, Metix, is gaining traction among banking customers. In just seven months, the average number of daily transactions has quadrupled, rising from 3,000 to approximately 12,000, according to figures released by the Bank of Mozambique.**
**Ethiopian Airlines officially launched scheduled flights between Nacala, in Mozambique's northern Nampula Province, and Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, on Tuesday, October 27. The new route will operate three times a week, connecting passengers to a global network of more than 130 destinations.**
**The Real Madrid star has reportedly lost several sponsorship deals with Chinese companies following the circulation of a video in which he appears to make a joke about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong. The French forward has apologised, but the controversy continues to spark reactions across China.**
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**Mozambique's Minister of Planning and Development, Salim Valá, says the country must accelerate economic diversification while awaiting higher revenues from major natural gas projects in the Rovuma Basin.**
The Mozambican Government has decided to extend until March 2029 the validity of a $2.25 billion sovereign guarantee granted to creditors of the Mozambique LNG project, led by French energy giant TotalEnergies in Area 1 of the Rovuma Basin, Cabo Delgado province. The decision follows a revision of the financial timetable for the project, valued at approximately $20 billion.
Mozambique’s Ministry of Education and Culture (MEC) and Ministry of Finance are discussing mechanisms to settle outstanding payments owed to teachers, including overtime compensation, additional teaching shifts, salaries and career progression entitlements. The two institutions are also seeking financial resources to ensure the printing and distribution of school textbooks for the 2027 academic year.
Mozambique and Russia have expressed their intention to strengthen economic and commercial cooperation, with the aim of identifying new investment opportunities and expanding bilateral relations. The commitment was highlighted on Monday, 26 October, during a meeting between Mozambican President Daniel Chapo and Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, in Moscow.
