Following deadly riots last week, the Mozambique government cut living costs and reversed a 30 percent increase in bread price. The announcement was made following a special meeting on Tuesday in the capital of Maputo.
The riots, which started over the hike in bread prices last week, left 13 people dead and hundreds injured.
Minister for Planning and Development Aiuba Cuereneia said the government agreed to revert back to its former prices for bread and other imported food. He also announced that tariffs for electricity and water will be reduced and the government will cut expenditures to cover the costs, the African Press Agency reported.
According to Cuereneia, the extra costs needed to maintain the former bread prices will be met through subsidies.
To control expenses, “the government has also agreed to freeze salary and allowance increases for senior government officials and those in government-controlled institutions,” Cuereneia said, according to African Press Agency.
The Mozambican government is also limiting international travel and first-class flights, and organizations starting through government funding will be placed on hold.
The increase in bread price initially started over wheat shortages in the country in the face of a large demand for wheat. Price hikes for electricity and water also drove up the cost of living in Mozambique, sparking last week’s riots in large cities across the southeastern African nation.
The riots, which started over the hike in bread prices last week, left 13 people dead and hundreds injured.
Minister for Planning and Development Aiuba Cuereneia said the government agreed to revert back to its former prices for bread and other imported food. He also announced that tariffs for electricity and water will be reduced and the government will cut expenditures to cover the costs, the African Press Agency reported.
According to Cuereneia, the extra costs needed to maintain the former bread prices will be met through subsidies.
To control expenses, “the government has also agreed to freeze salary and allowance increases for senior government officials and those in government-controlled institutions,” Cuereneia said, according to African Press Agency.
The Mozambican government is also limiting international travel and first-class flights, and organizations starting through government funding will be placed on hold.
The increase in bread price initially started over wheat shortages in the country in the face of a large demand for wheat. Price hikes for electricity and water also drove up the cost of living in Mozambique, sparking last week’s riots in large cities across the southeastern African nation.