The former Governor (1981/86) of the Bank of Mozambique (BM), Prakash Ratilal, is convinced that it was the World Bank that destroyed the cashew nut industry in Mozambique.

According to the economist, the Bretton Woods System institution has financing policies for countries like Mozambique that don't meet their needs in order to develop.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is also "to blame" for the downturn in the weaker economies, he said.

However, Ratilal still sees the possibility of the country doing better business with the World Bank. As he said, this will require greater competence on the part of Mozambican staff in financial matters and negotiating skills.

"It is possible to negotiate, and the stronger we are, the better the negotiation will be for the country's benefit, otherwise there will be a bitter recipe," he said.

In an interview with Radio MozambiqueIn an interview, broadcast yesterday on the occasion of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Bank of Mozambique, he noted, however, that despite the robustness that the country may display, "they have to want" the nation to develop.