Idosos em Moçambique
Maputo, 4 Apr (AIM) – The Mozambican government plans to spend five billion meticais (78.2 million US dollars at the current exchange rate) this year to assist over 600,000 beneficiaries of the basic social allowance, a form of social security paid to the elderly and other vulnerable groups.
According to Labour Minister Ivete Alane, who was speaking to reporters, on Thursday, on the sidelines of a meeting of the Central Committee of the ruling Frelimo party, the regular payment of the basic social allowance has resumed.
Alane said that the regular payment of the allowance had been stopped as a result of digital reforms, “so this whole reform process means that things don’t happen when they should. But now we’re working towards a gradual recovery.”
The resumption of payment, she said, will be gradual for the over 600,000 beneficiaries throughout the country.
“Some provinces and districts are already paying the allowances. Depending on budget availability, we will pay them. Of course, it won’t be all at once. We’re doing it partially, gradually, and the elderly will receive their allowances. This whole year, we’re going to pay around five billion Meticais”, she said.
The minister acknowledged that the monthly allowance, which varies between 540 and 1,000 meticais (from eight dollars to 15 dollars at the current exchange rate), is out of line with the current cost of living.
“Obviously it’s not enough, but it’s what we can afford at the moment and we have to work to gradually improve the amount we pay to our beneficiaries. So this is a process that, depending on our country’s financial conditions, we will improve. We realize that we need to do better, and that the allowance still doesn’t meet the needs of the basic food basket”, she said.
(AIM)
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