you have almost a Tour de Suisse. Paula Monjane and Denise Namburete, the Civil Society Budget Forum (FMO). The network of 21 non-governmental organisations from Mozambique, the Credit Suisse will help the country reducing its debts.

In the past few days, the two women in Zurich, Bern and Basel languages in front of an audience of about 40. Last Friday they took the big stage at the CS General Assembly. Namburete language in the Zurich indoor stadium in front of over 1300 shareholders, the Bank and spoke to CS President Urs Rohner and CS-in-chief Tidjane Thiam as a matter of urgency. “We came all the way from Mozambique, and looking for answers,” said Namburete.

the Paradise Papers in the South-East African country has been revealed in a debt scandal. The Bank helped from 2012, together with the Russian Bank VTB, to organize loans to government-related companies in the amount of more than $ 2 billion. The fees of the CS amounted to 1.6 percent of the total volume – the standard conditions for such transactions. The funds were misappropriated on a large scale, the credits burst, and the national debt shot up. Against former government officials, managers of state-owned enterprises, as well as three former employees of the CS shall be determined in the United States.

The Bank got nothing from the behavior of the Ex-employees know, said Rohner at the AGM. To have a lot of information, the Bank can obtain only by legal procedures. The help in the workup and leads to the conclusion that such a thing could not happen. In addition, the Institute cooperates with the competent authorities.

solution

Now Monjane and Namburete met with the CS in-chief of lawyers Romeo Cerutti. trying The course of the conversation, the Bank does not comment. But apparently, the Institute is striving to find a solution. “The conversation was constructive,” said Veronica Hendry, President of the voting legal Advisor, the Us. The us has conveyed to the Meeting, and has been for years, that the disputed transactions, the Bank will be applied. The Bank was willing to stay with FMO in contact, so Hendry. For further information, don’t want to give.

Regardless, the Swiss non-governmental organisation, Public Eye has submitted the these days display against the CS, such as the “Sunday newspaper” reported. It is a question of whether the Swiss group’s knowledge hub for more on the controversial transactions.

The organisations from Mozambique to first go to the CS because she is in this business, the most important Bank. “The Russian VTB, we look at, but for us, it is hardly tangible,” said Monjane. In the case of the CS, the US study to help in the case of the Russian VTB there is nothing comparable. In addition to the direct conversation, the Activist are attempting to international pressure. “We will contact all the international organizations, of which we believe that you can have an impact,” said Namburete.

“Illegal and fraudulent”

The organizations of FMO to look to the local authorities when dealing with public funds on the Finger. They had found serious misconduct. The loans were not approved by the Parliament, they were therefore illegal, said Monjane to this newspaper. “But for us, they are not only illegal, but fraudulent,” said Monjane.

the local policy plays an important role. “We accept that there were members of government that have harmed our country”, said Namburete. It was not, but just a question: “There was an international network of companies, which has led us into the crisis – the Moçambiquer should not have to pay for them.” Their use is for Monjane and Namburete dangerous. Their Swiss allies are worried about their safety.

Mozambique is not buffeted only by two severe hurricanes (see the Box at the end). The economy of the state has developed in the last twenty years very well, but the situation has deteriorated in the last few years. “The country is already poor, and the debt of Mozambique is damaged,” said Monjane. The people of Mozambique should not have to bear the consequences of this fraud. “We have to pay for these illegal loans,” she explains. Because according to the UN, the share of the budget devoted to debt service has increased significantly.

For hospitals and schools lack the money. “Essential drugs are missing, or the teachers have no salary,” said Monjane. In addition, already in the future state were promised revenues for the debt service. Currently, the U.S. energy companies Anadarko and Exxon mobile to liquefied natural gas projects. The country would, at a stroke, to a major exporter of natural gas. But would be of little hang.

After all: Monjane and Namburete now travel with some of the answers of the CS in the Luggage back to Moçambique.

(editing Tamedia)

Created: 29.04.2019, 20:57 PM