The government says it has resumed the regular payment of the basic social allowance to the elderly throughout the country, but acknowledges that the amount paid is out of line with the current cost of living.

According to a report in "O Pais", five billion Meticais is expected to be paid out this year to around 600,000 beneficiaries across the country.

The basic social allowance varies between 540 and 1000 Meticais, money paid monthly, but it is far from satisfying the real needs of the elderly.

"Obviously it's not enough, but it's what can be paid at the moment and we have to work to gradually improve the amount we pay our beneficiaries," said the Minister of Labor, Gender and Social Action, Ivete Alane.

"So this is a process that, depending on our country's financial conditions, we are improving. We are aware that we need to do better, that it still doesn't meet the needs of the basic food basket," he said.

As for the resumption of subsidy payments to this social class, she said that it would be done gradually, citing various reasons for this.

"We are already working on digitizing payments. So this whole reform process means that things don't happen when they should. But now we're working towards a gradual recovery," he said.

She was speaking this Thursday on the sidelines of the fourth ordinary session of the Central Committee of the Frelimo party, which is taking place in the city of Matola.