Government turns post-cyclone reconstruction fund into endowment

The Minister of Public Works, Housing and Water Resources, Joao Machatine, recently revealed the transformation into a grant of the 15-million-dollar financing line to support micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), affected by cyclones Idai and Kenneth in the central region.

According to João Machatine, who was speaking during the handing over of 90 houses, a school and a market, in the resettlement district of Mutua, in Dondo, in a first phase, only five million dollars, which was intended for the business class, in the form of donation, will be converted into credit.

"All the basic conditions are thus in place for the recovery of MSMEs affected by cyclonic events in 2019 and favor the restoration of jobs," Machatine assured.

Initially, when these values were released, there was some discomfort among the business class, due to the criteria imposed by the bank.

"We have reflected with the World Bank and reached an understanding that the 15 million dollars that would have been for credit will now become a donation, and the five million dollars that were destined for donation will remain for credit," said the governor.

Meanwhile, the president of the Provincial Business Council (CEP), Ricardo Conhaque, present at the ceremony, said that the beneficiaries are eager to quickly access the donation.

"Our losses, due to the passage of cyclone Idai, were enormous in Beira City," Ricardo Conhaque annointed.

Share this article