Concern remain over govt funding of ex-president's retirement home

Despite a decision to slash funding for a luxury beachfront mansion for Mozambique's former president Joaquim Chissano, there are still complaints that any amount would be inappropriate, given the country's struggle against widespread poverty. The government was initially expected to fork out around US $2.5 million to build the retirement house, but the finance ministry recently backtracked and announced that this would be cut by 60 percent, citing other government priorities. While some observers have applauded the decision, saying it reinforced the commitment of the new government to tackle poverty, others have argued that the state's contribution should have been cut even further. Viana Magalhaes, a senior opposition party official, told IRIN that "even a one million dollars is an exaggeration for a country like Mozambique". Although Mozambique saw dramatic economic growth under Chissano's rule, analysts point out that ordinary people have yet to reap the rewards: poverty remains widespread and the country's image has been dulled by the corrosive impact of corruption in recent years. Fernando Lima, chairman of the Media Co-op, an independent publishing company, noted that according to the country's laws, Chissano was eligible for a handsome pension, so there was no need to fund the construction of a retirement home as well. "A lot of people were shocked when they read about this [building the house] in the press, and I think the government is doing some damage control - they didn't anticipate this would be an issue," she noted. Chissano stepped down as Mozambique's president in January 2005 after 18 years in power. He is largely credited with leading Mozambique out of a 16-year civil war with the rebel group, RENAMO, and into multiparty elections. Last month United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan appointed Chissano as his special envoy tasked with ensuring peaceful presidential elections in the troubled West African state of Guinea-Bissau.