"Visible improvement" but still a long way to go

Efforts to tackle poverty in Mozambique have made progress with the authorities this week reporting a "visible" improvement in social services delivery. At a meeting with donors on Monday to review the country's anti-poverty programme, officials noted a drop in household poverty from 69 percent in 2000 to 54 percent in 2003. "Progress was especially visible in improvements in health care, education, and access to potable water," Prime Minister Luísa Diogo reportedly told journalists in the capital, Maputo, after the meeting. However, despite the gains, the country still faced formidable challenges, Diogo added. "There has been a lot of progress and we are pleased with some of the successes, but it is fair to say that it is a mixed picture. The important point is that the government is committed to improving in areas which are lacking," Ronald Meyer, head of German-Mozambican cooperation in Maputo, told IRIN. He said that while there were more girls attending school, the number of children who dropped out of the education system before obtaining a high school diploma remained high. Health indicators had also improved, although a lot needed to be done in providing services in rural areas, Meyer said. While agricultural output was "quite positive", it was limited to the sale of cash crops. "Cash crops are faring better than other crops, but there should be more focus on district planning and financing for local government structures in rural areas," he suggested. Despite its recent successes and the assistance of international aid programmes, Mozambique remains one of the poorest countries in Southern Africa. Meyer warned that as the country prepares for presidential and legislative elections later this year, the authorities should be mindful of its limited resources. "It is crucial that the government maintains control over how much is actually spent on the upcoming elections, as there is a tendency to overspend in an election year."