NEWS SUMMARY. 19TH JANUARY, 2010. POLITICS Dhlakama reiterates demonstrations this week The leader of RENAMO, Afonso Dhlakama, reiterated last week its intention to promote "peaceful” demonstrations which has been spreading in different occasions. At the meeting of the party held a few days ago, in Nampula, Dhlakama said that all the bases necessary to carry out the demonstrations are already prepared for this week. Also according to him, the event aims to stop the communist regime of FRELIMO. O País. 19th January, 2010. Mozambican parliament strengthens relations with Portugal The chairman of the Assembly of the Republic, Veronica Macamo, said yesterday in Maputo, during a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Portugal, Luis Amado, that the relationship between the Portuguese and Mozambican parliaments has gained new impetus. The meeting aimed to highlight the need for an ongoing relationship between the two parliaments, so that both the officials of Mozambique and Portugal have the opportunity to exchange experiences that enable them to better perform their duties. O País. 19th January, 2010. Youth Parliament meets with partners The Youth Parliament (PJ), an association that advocates the interests of young people in the country, will meet tomorrow with its partners to discuss specific areas to be withering point of its action this year. According to its Chairperson, Salomão Muchanga, the meeting will be a case study of the actual situation of the young, in order to set priorities that allow its intervention in the country, based on facts. O País. 19th January, 2010. ECONOMICS AND DEVELOPMENT Metical fell 9.65% in 2009 For almost all of last year, the Metical depreciated against major currencies with it features, including the dollar, the rand and the euro in 9.65%, compared to 7.1% in 2008. The Bank of Mozambique also notes that the depreciation experienced its peak in August when it reached 15.4%, which helped to overcome the levels of 2008. This fact contributed to the fall in the volume of exports due to the world economic crisis. O País. 19th January, 2010. Government approved powerhouse for Riversdale After the fulfillment of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), the Ministry for Coordination of Environmental Affairs (MICOA), approved the hydroelectric plant of Benga. The project will be developed in two phases, first passing by the burning of coal, with production capacity of 500MW, and with a completion scheduled for 2013. The second phase is an upgrade to a central supply of 2.000MW, depending on the proposed backbone and capacity transmission. O País. 19th January, 2010. PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT Progress in combating malaria A team of international scientists is in Maputo to assess the development of studies of the third stage of the malaria vaccine. The search for a new drug started at the end of last year and raise the hopes of having it available to the market during the next five or six years. The annual meeting of the international organization Malaria Clinical Trials Alliance (MCTA), which ends today, follows a time when Mozambique and other African nations started to see signs of improvement when it comes to fighting this disease. The host of the meeting is the Center for Research in Health of Manhiça (CISM). http://www.jornalnoticias.co.mz/pls/notimz2/getxml/pt/contentx/954713 River levels climb in northern region The water levels of Rivers Messalo, Megaruma, Melúli, Lugenda, Montepuez and Licungo, in the northern region are rising, a situation that should prevail today and tomorrow as a result of precipitation occurred in the respective basins in recent days. Despite this level rises, there is no indication that those rivers will reach the point of alert. According to the National Water Directorate (DNA), there were rains in northern and central regions until yesterday. However, DNA has recommended to the population to take precautionary measures to cross the river beds and maintain the equipment and assets in safe areas because of being critical stage of the rainy season which runs from January to March. http://www.jornalnoticias.co.mz/pls/notimz2/getxml/pt/contentx/954714 HUMAN RIGHTS AND LEGALITY AR wants to increase legislative proposals How to increase the legislative proposals of the Members of Parliament is one of the ongoing challenges of this body, as said yesterday in Maputo, its Chairperson, Verónica Macamo. Speaking at a hearing that she gave to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal, Luis Amado, Veronica Macamo explained how the body works, indicating that most of the proceedings is made on the basis of consensus among the parliamentary groups. However, when there is no consensus, decisions are taken by voting. She also reported that the country has just come out of the fourth general elections, and the elected were sworn in for days. http://www.jornalnoticias.co.mz/pls/notimz2/getxml/pt/contentx/954702 Scientific director of ISCISA accused of promoting fraud José Nunes Gilberto, Scientific Director of the Higher Institute of Health Sciences (ISCISA) in Maputo is since last Saturday being heard by the Police of Criminal Investigation (PIC) allegedly for his involvement in a scheme to sell copies of the examinations for admission to this institution of education, which is scheduled to start this morning across the country. In connection with the case, the police also arrested Ussene António, student of the same Institute, after he was found with eleven copies of the examinations. He says that these were delivered by José Nunes Gilberto with a mission to put them in the market. http://www.jornalnoticias.co.mz/pls/notimz2/getxml/pt/contentx/954710 Suspected thief lynched in Beira Popular furious in the neighborhood of Munhava, in the city of Beira, ended the life of a young man in the early hours of last Friday, accusing the deceased and some of his friends of assaulting homes with the use of knives. The victim, whose identity was not yet found, was severely beaten and his body thrown in the street. This episode is the first this year. Therefore, last year that city has registered a total of 25 cases of lynching. The spokesperson of the command of the Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM) in Sofala, Mateus Mazive condemned the act, calling once more for the people to address the problems to the proper authorities. http://www.jornalnoticias.co.mz/pls/notimz2/getxml/pt/contentx/954703 Inmates will receive training More than 600 Mozambicans inmates will receive training as part of a plan of action endorsed by the Prison Service and the Community of Sant'Egidio. The project is funded by the Dutch Embassy, which in 2009 supported the prisons of Lichinga and Cuamba, allowing the training of more than 70 inmates in the areas of carpentry, pottery, bakery, blacksmith and sewing. In addition, the prison population of Lichinga and Cuamba receives regular visits from volunteers of the Community of Sant'Egidio. http://www.jornalnoticias.co.mz/pls/notimz2/getxml/pt/contentx/954705 Collaboration Constancio Nguja - Translation Delfina Danca - Politics, Human Rights and Legal Affairs Saite Junior - Economics, Development, Public Health and Environment Raul Chambote - Executive Director of CEMO