As of December 29, 2024, the
situation in Pemba, Cabo Delgado province in north of Mozambique began to return to normal due to the resumption of fuel
supply at the city's gas stations. The price of public transport, known as
"chapas," decreased to the previous rate of twenty meticais (20).
However, the price of food
and other essential products continues to rise. For example, a 25 kg bag of
flour is now priced at 1,400 meticais, while rice costs around 1,500 meticais.
Cooking oil and other products remain expensive. Perhaps one could say, "help,
help..."
Moreover, after Cyclone
Chido, which struck on December 15, 2024, the local government was instructed
to begin registration for aid distribution. However, despite this, no assistance
has been provided so far.
As a result, people are
rebuilding at their own expense, but even local traders have raised the prices
of construction materials. For example, a sheet of simple zinc now costs 350
meticais, up from 290 or 280 meticais before. Other construction materials have
also increased in price.
We are currently living in
despair due to the rising prices because the reduction and availability of fuel
alone does not solve anything for now. Pemba, with its reality between poverty
and wealth, faces the challenge of dealing with the aftermath of terrorism,
Cyclone Chido, protests, and the lack of government control over price
speculation, which continues to reach new highs every day.
Here, we truly live by the
law of survival, where the weak become even weaker, and the rich remain the
same. Those who seek to rise must knock down as much as they can to reach their
goals. Until then, we will continue fighting our way to the end. (Seven Mussa)
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