
Maputo, 21 Oct (AIM) – One of the main travel agencies in Maputo, Cotur, has categorically denied claims that it financed the campaign of the ruling Frelimo Party, and its presidential candidate, Daniel Chapo, in Mozambique’s recent general elections.
Messages circulating on social media associated Cotur and its chairperson, Noor Momade, to election fraud that supposedly benefitted Frelimo in the elections.
According to one of these messages, Momade “says he spent a fortune on Chapo’s campaign and expects to be recognized. He says that the frauds were for the good of the people and that only Frelimo is capable of governing the country”.
Momade supposedly said “Frelimo is not a political party. It’s a religion. Chapo is our savior”. Because of his investment in the campaign, Momad expected to be appointed Foreign Minister in a future Chapo government.
The independent daily “O Pais” confronted Cotur officials with these messages. They denied the claims made and said they were libelous.
The company’s CEO, Muhammed Abdullah declared they were “completely absurd”.
“These are inventions, false statements, and Cotur vehemently distances itself from them”, he declared.
He said he had no idea who was behind the messages. Since there is no legislation governing social media, Abdullah said Cotur had no way of controlling what is written about it.
“We have witnessed recently various attacks and false accusations”, he said. “But we shall continue with our hard work, and with our commitment which is to surpass the expectations of our clients and continue to work for the socio-economic growth of our country”.
Cotur is generally regarded as a reputable company, and has won various national and international prizes. The most recent of these was the prize “TAP Awards” granted in 2022 by the Portuguese airline TAP, which regarded Cotur as the best promotor of travel in Africa.
(AIM)
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