News

Moza Banco participated this Tuesday in the ceremony to launch the Fernando Leite Couto Literary Prize, a literary competition created in 2017 and which aims to promote and reward young Mozambican writers.

The launch of this fourth edition of the award, which marks the formal opening of the application process, took place at the Fernando Leite Couto Foundation and was attended, among other illustrious guests, by the writer Mia Couto and the Chairman of the Board of Directors at Moza Banco, João Figueiredo.

João Figueiredo noted that the initiative represents an important contribution for the growth of arts and humanities in the country. 

“The Fernando Leite Couto Award announced today, besides highlighting and exalting the legacy of a figure whose career and work history is sure to cherish, also encourages young creative artists to promote the nation’s history and identity," said João Figueiredo, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Moza Banco.

Mia Couto, on behalf of Fernando Leite Couto Foundation, stated that “This award can boost the career of young writers from anywhere in the country. I would like to thank you all for coming, in particular our partners represented here, such as Moza Banco and Camões - Portuguese Cultural Centre”.

In addition to Moza Banco, this year's edition also sees the partnerships of Camões - Portuguese Cultural Centre in Maputo, the Portugal-Mozambique Chamber of Commerce and the Municipality of Óbidos.

Since its creation, the Fernando Leite Couto Award has already had two winners, namely Macvildo Pedro Bonde, with the book of poems "Descrição das Sombras", in 2017, and Otildo Justino Guido, with the work "O Silêncio da Pele", in 2019.

Young writers who wish to apply for this new edition may submit their applications between 14^th December 2021 and 28^th February 2022. The winner will be announced on 16^th April 2022.

Moza Banco undertook this Friday 19^th November, to hand over to the Mayor of  Beira Municipal Council, Albano Carige, (2) metallic units where the Bank's branches used to operate at Goto and Munhava Markets, (2) water tanks with a capacity of 500L each, as well as hygiene kits as part of the fight against Covid-19.

With this initiative, the bank intends to contribute to the development of the country's second largest city, as the units will be used to collect taxes and fees, as Albano Carige revealed. On the other hand, the hygienic material consisting of goggles, visors, spray pumps, surgical gloves, alcohol gel, thermometers, sprayers, waterproof suits, gloves, masks, among other items, will ensure that residents will have more prevention and protection means against Covid-19.

On the occasion, the representative of the Moza Banco’s Executive Committee, Alfredo Paúa, emphasised that, “with this initiative, Moza Banco expects to provide means that serve the interests of our partners, and in the specific case of Beira Municipality, contribute to the increase in their tax revenue generation capacity, through the installation of tax collection points within these markets, allowing citizens to pay their contributions in greater ease and comfort”.

During his speech, the Mayor of Beira Municipality, Albano Carige, welcomed the initiative from Moza Banco, highlighting, “Moza Banco has once again shown that it is not simply an institution where we keep and withdraw our money, yet also an institution that cares about the health of Beira City’s citizens. It is with deep satisfaction that we have received the hygiene kits for the prevention and combat of Covid-19, as well as the units that will continue to serve our population. We are grateful for that. I would like to ask the citizens and my colleagues to conserve the received goods extremely well”.

As well as Beira municipality, this donation has also taken in the markets of Xiquelene, in Maputo municipality, T3 and Socimol, in Matola municipality, Boane, in Boane municipality, and Resta and 25 de Junho, located in Nampula municipality.

Moza Banco took part last Tuesday 26^th October, in the 6^th edition of the Conference "Know and Use SMEs Financing", which was held in Chokwé district, Gaza province. The event, organized by the Institute for the Promotion of Small and Medium Enterprises (IPEME), had the aim of sharing its financing lines, facilitating the interaction between the bank and MSMEs and also in assisting SMEs in the area of financial literacy.

The one-day event allowed Moza Banco to present its range of products and financial solutions suitable for the growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). As each business has its own specificities, Moza supports business treasury management through financing for investment and equipment acquisition, with highly beneficial conditions so that companies continue to grow.

The bank also presented several financing lines available at the moment with competitive interest rates, such as the Sustenta credit line from FNDS - National Fund for Sustainable Development, the Agro Garante credit line, the FSA - Food Security Fund (also known as the Kuwait Fund) lines, the USAID credit line aimed at financing agribusiness, and also the AGF and FECOP lines.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Managing Director of the Institute for the Promotion of Small and Medium Enterprises (IPEME), Joaquina Gumeta, began by reminding those in attendance that the Know and Use SMEs Finance Conference, is a platform which aims to make Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises aware of the several financing opportunities available for this segment of companies, considering that one of the major constraints mentioned in the MSME development strategy is the lack of access to relevant information. Looking ahead, the director remained expectant regarding the event’s outcomes:

“IPEME expects tangible results from this session, from the interaction between the MSMEs and the entities that presented their financing instruments. To facilitate the achievement of this objective, we have business support services providing technical assistance and linking the MSMEs to these opportunities”.

For the Retail Commercial Director for the southern region, José Mathe, “Moza is a bank that is concerned with Mozambicans’ well-being, and therefore it is focused on the growth and development of national companies. It is within this context that we present our special range of products aimed especially at Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, in addition to various financing solutions adapted for companies in rural, peri urban and other areas.”

By joining this initiative, Moza Banco is pursuing its strategy as a universal bank, with a strong commercial orientation and an extensive national coverage, aspiring to contribute to greater financial inclusion, an excellent service to its customers and a more robust national economy by investing in the financial empowerment and robustness of Small and Medium companies in the country.

The "Know and Use SMEs Finance" Conference, led by IPEME, has been held since 2012 and has already visited Maputo, Sofala and Niassa provinces

The Governor of Niassa province, Elina Judite da Rosa Victor Massengele, re-inaugurated 3 water supply boreholes in Majune district. The rehabilitation of the infrastructures came with financial support from Moza Banco. Likewise Moza donated Covid-19 prevention material to Majune and Chimbunila districts.

The District Government of Majune, in Niassa Province, informed Moza Banco that one of the challenges in the district was a limited capacity to supply water to the population, with the current coverage standing at around 56.2%. With a view to improving the supply capacity of this precious liquid, and as part of the good relations between the Government and the bank, Moza Banco was requested to support the Water and Sanitation sector, through the rehabilitation of 3 water supply boreholes, which had become inoperative.

The request was met with acceptance by the bank and last Saturday the Governor of Niassa led the reinauguration ceremony of the infrastructure which is set to benefit over 40 thousand local residents and others.

"These infrastructures carry a special symbolism for us and for the population of Majune, since the water sources inaugurated today will improve the lives of our population in terms of the quality of their health, water, safety and comfort. This community now avoids the risk of contagion from certain diseases and will see a shortening in distances travelled in search of water from rivers and wells", Elina Massengele said.

The Permanent Secretaries of Majune and Chimbunila, that benefited from Moza's support, welcomed the gesture and were unanimous in stating that "this assistance from Moza Banco will boost the actions that the districts have undertaken in order to prevent and combat Covid-19, as well as improve living conditions within the communities".

Sérgio Ribeiro, a member of Moza Banco’s Executive Committee, said that "the bank expects that, by granting this support, the capacity to provide water to the population will be improved. Likewise, we hope to contribute to strengthen the means of prevention and in the fight against Covid-19, which despite the disease’s stabilising trend, remains a current threat to the health and well-being of us all".

For Moza Banco, this donation lies within the scope of its corporate social responsibility and is part of the efforts that the bank has been undertaking to minimise the effects of this disease.

From this Wednesday, 1st September, Moza Banco customers will be able to make multiple money transfers in a single operation to Movitel’s electronic wallet, e-Mola. The information was made public moments after the signing of an interoperability protocol, through which customers from both entities will be able to move their money in a simple, fast and secure way, at any time and from anywhere in the country.

The service launched will allow transactions to be made between Moza and e-Mola users through the channels Moza Já (*247#), Moza Mobile, Moza NET and AZAPP (WhatsApp Banking), and e-Mola through USSD *898# or the e-Mola App.  This feature will allow customers to pay for utilities (Water, Internet, TV), buy mobile top-ups and Credelec electricity, and make payments to individuals.

For Moza Banco’s CEO, Manuel Soares, this is a partnership that meets the needs of the current situation, "We are a Mozambican bank, concerned with the welfare of Mozambicans. Today we are bringing another service that will give added value to our customers. With this agreement, our customers and those using e-Mola can carry out transactions in a simple, convenient and secure manner. This is another firm step we are taking towards a greater digitalisation of financial services, bringing them ever closer to citizens, making them more accessible and comprehensive, thereby contributing to greater financial inclusion."

Likewise, Movitel’s Board Chairman highlighted during his speech the fact that Movitel remains the only mobile operator available in a large part of the districts where Moza is also the only formal financial institution present, "therefore this agreement between e-Mola and Moza, is a clear sign of our commitment to financial inclusion in the country while also coming in response to demand from our customers. So we will continue to expand our services to all Mozambican citizens", Victor Luis Timoteo said.

It should be recalled that e-Mola is the second largest electronic wallet in the country, with over 1.6 million users and a notable growth in recent times. With this agreement, Moza becomes the first bank to implement the interoperability service with all the main electronic wallets in the country.