That socialism really is history becomes clear when a country's president teaches a lesson on capitalism on the front page of the government newspaper. The first paper I bought after arriving in Maputo quotes Mozambican president Guebuza's reaction to a request from farmers in Zambezia. They find themselves in a cutthroat competition with Malawi colleagues who are swamping the market with cheap tomatoes, ever since floods hit the area. The agricultural sector in this province is having a hard time recovering and is therefore asking for protectionist measures. But the president of the ruling - once marxist - Frelimo party said this was out of the question. He advised the Zambezia farmers to produce more crops in order to compete with Malawi. He did refer to the past as well though: many Mozambicans found refuge in Malawi during the years of war.
That socialism really is history becomes clear when a country's president teaches a lesson on capitalism on the front page of the government newspaper. The first paper I bought after arriving in Maputo quotes Mozambican president Guebuza's reaction to a request from farmers in Zambezia. They find themselves in a cutthroat competition with Malawi colleagues who are swamping the market with cheap tomatoes, ever since floods hit the area. The agricultural sector in this province is having a hard time recovering and is therefore asking for protectionist measures. But the president of the ruling - once marxist - Frelimo party said this was out of the question. He advised the Zambezia farmers to produce more crops in order to compete with Malawi. He did refer to the past as well though: many Mozambicans found refuge in Malawi during the years of war.
cheers, drew