Today’s Mail on Sunday reports rumours that the President of Mozambique has acquired a private aeroplane. The Mail has also stated that the country receives aid from the UK, and suggests the aid Mozambique receives is therefore “freeing up funds”, which can be used on spending like the jet.
The UK does not provide any funding directly to the Government of Mozambique, and any suggestion that UK aid could ‘free up’ government money to be used for spending like this jet is simply false.
The newspaper also refers to a “secret-loan scandal” in Mozambique. The UK suspended all funding to the Government of Mozambique in April 2016 following the confirmation of undisclosed state-guaranteed ‘hidden loans’. At this time, all direct support was provided on a payment-by-results basis, and so very carefully regulated. There was no evidence that there was any misuse of UK funds.
Mozambique is one of the poorest countries in the world, and therefore DFID continues to work through trusted partners to deliver lifesaving aid to those who need it most. Tackling poverty, inequality and poor governance in Mozambique is critical to create growth and prosperity across southern Africa, and to encourage stability – which is firmly in the UK’s interest.
A DFID Spokesperson said:
No UK funding goes to the Government of Mozambique. We do continue to work with trusted partners to deliver water, health care and other lifesaving aid directly to those in desperate need of support, but this support does not go through the Government.
1 comment
Comment by Christopher John Blanshard posted on
Stop ALL foreign aid NOW