The Ministry of Education and Human Development (MINEDH) has imported 161 cars to be distributed throughout the country to district education directorates and services, supposedly at the service of education.

Of the 25% of the state budget earmarked for the education sector, around 85% is for paying salaries and the rest for investments. The value of the vehicles is unknown.

"Some 161 cars will be distributed throughout Mozambique. Where does the money come from to buy high-end cars?" asked Carlos Muhate, Secretary of the Supervisory Board of the National Teachers' Association (ANAPRO).

He was speaking recently in Maputo during a meeting organized by the Education for All Movement (MEPT), which brought together civil society organizations focused on education, as well as diplomatic representations in Mozambique.

He believes there is no reason to buy high-performance cars with education budgets while teachers are not paid overtime and educational institutions are in a precarious situation.

"We don't need cars. We need classrooms. Teachers need salaries. But on the other hand, you buy high-end cars," he said, pointing the finger of blame at MINEDH, which took part in the three-day workshop.

O MZNews obtained a video showing 12 vehicles being sent to Nipepe (1), Maua (1), N'gauma (1), Cuamba (2), Lago (1), Majune (1), Chimbonila (1), Sanga (1), Lichinga (1) and Niassa (2), in Niassa province. The vehicles are destined for the Provincial Directorates and District Services for Education, Youth and Technology and one for the Teacher Training Institute in Cuamba.

Another ANAPRO source, contacted today, said that MINEDH had imported Mitsubish model Triton off-road vehicles, i.e. with four-wheel drive (4×4). Nampula province has also received its batch of vehicles.

He also questions the need to import high-capacity vehicles while all the education directorates in the country have operational, "working" vehicles.

What's more, he has shown suspicions that the MINEDH is serving as a 'blue bag' to support the political interests of a particular party, as the general elections draw near.

The MEPT event aimed to collect ideas that could make the next government more open and willing to respond to citizens' concerns and suggestions. MEPT also proposed the creation of a national fund for basic education.

The two-headed devil, the two devils or the devil's lawyers?

Quoted by STV on May 5, the deputy minister of MINEDH, Manuel Bazo, said that the school books would not be in the country's ports until July, towards the end of the second quarter. He said the delay was due to poor sailing conditions.

"The books will be in schools soon. There was a setback in the navigation. The books are already on their way to the port of Nacala and Maputo," he said.

However, on April 17, the Minister of Science and Technology, Daniel Nivagara, assured parliament and the entire Mozambican people that the textbooks were already on home soil and being distributed by MINEDH.

"MINEDH is in the process of receiving and distributing the learning materials acquired for the year 2024. In fact, some learning materials have already been received at Mozambique's three main ports, namely Maputo, Beira and Nacala. Transporters have been hired and have started distributing them to the SDEJTs and these to the schools," he said.