Companhia Industrial da Matola challenges import rules
The Cereals Institute seized 3,300 tonnes of wheat and blocked imports after the company filed a court challenge.
Companhia Industrial da Matola (CIM) is challenging import regulations set by the Cereals Institute (ICM) in court. On October 12, CIM served its challenge to the economy minister and ICM, leading ICM to announce the suspension of CIM’s imports and seize 3,300 tonnes of wheat at the Port of Matola the next day. ICM also instructed commercial banks, with a copy to the Bank of Mozambique, to reject CIM’s court certificate for future transactions.
Jurists consulted by Zitamar consider ICM’s actions unlawful, stating that the service of the challenge should have provisionally suspended further enforcement against CIM. ICM claims the Economy Ministry invoked an exception for serious urgency in the public interest, but Zitamar has not seen this declaration or any subsequent court ruling. The director-general of ICM, Luís José Jobe Fazenda, signed the directive to banks.
The import charge rose from $5 to $16 per tonne, potentially yielding substantial sums. Between May and mid-October, ICM recorded approximately 615,000 tonnes of rice and wheat imports. One importer reported paying $2m on its wheat imports in the previous month alone. Jurists are questioning the legality of the charge and the holding of its proceeds.
Why it mattersCompanhia Industrial da Matola faces blocked imports and seized goods due to a legal challenge against import regulations.