Mozambique: Investors Should Invest in Tourism Says Joaquim Chissano

Joaquim Alberto Chissano, former President of the Republic of Mozambique, gives his assessment of tourism in Mozambique, saying now is the time to invest in the sector.

“Tourism certainly cannot thrive in a situation of conflict, especially if there are attacks on certain roads, as is currently the case. A main road has been attacked in one portion of the country, but the tourist wants to be free to go wherever. Even when there is no conflict, a tourist may have the feeling that anything may happen. In this respect, you’re right, because in this process of exerting pressure, the enemy may not mind killing a single tourist, in order to create a sensation and make people feel that this Government is unable to protect visitors, or even its own citizens, which could be among their tactics”, says Joaquim Chissano.

“I believe investors themselves should in fact seize this opportunity, where things seem to be at a standstill. Those who come in now can do wonders. I see hotels being built around here and I applaud these people, because this wave of unrest will subside, and when it does, tourism will return in full force. Actually, tourists have never stopped coming altogether, even during the worst of times. But you’re right: they won’t come in the numbers that we’re hoping for and seeking to promote”, he adds.

“War has never been a friend of development. This applies not only to tourism, but to manpower itself, which faces problems when there’s unrest, because people must be free to travel, whether it’s to work, or to go on holidays and return to work. Traders too need to travel up and down the country. Of course, I feel it’s absurd. It’s almost like stopping the traffic of vehicles in one direction and not the other, believing that one part of the country is benefitting from this or being protected. But traffic must flow on both sides. There are raw materials coming from the North to the South for some processing, as well as goods going from the South to the North, including some raw materials going to the North for processing or for construction purposes, which could be sourced from somewhere in the South. I can talk about medicines, fertilisers or practically anything. You never know what lorry needs to go from one point to the other. Therefore, the best thing is just to have peace and no unrest at all”, he concludes.