Abstract

I. IntroductionMozambique‟s capital Maputo hosted the tenth All-Africa Games (AAG), between 3and 18 September 2011. Although during the preparation period critics questioned thecountry‟s capacity to host the Games, others congratulated the government “fordignifying” the country. Officially, the total cost of the Games to the Mozambican statesummed up to US$ 250 million, used in the rehabilitation of some sports facilitiesaround Maputo, Matola (where taekwondo and chess competition were disputed) andChidenguele (in Gaza province, where canoeing was held), logistics and other relatedactivities. Considering the time and financial constraints in hosting the Games, the roleof China and Portugal was crucial to the Games. China‟s direct and indirect financialinvolvement is estimated at about US$ 156 million, while the Portuguese governmentloan amounted to US$ 152 million (Mabunda, 2011, “Balanço positivo dos X JogosAfricanos!”, O País Online, 23/9).China and Portugal both contributed with more than 50% of the total amount for theGames, illustrating the importance of other countries in financing the localgovernment‟s budget. The country has been receiving a sizable contribution to its stategeneral budget from the donors, especially after Mozambique adhered to the Breton-Woods institutions policies in 1984 and the subsequent introduction of economic andconstitutional reforms in 1987 and 1990, respectively, adoption of multiparty system in1991 and the end of the internal conflict in 1992. External financial support amountedto more than half of the total budget until 2011. Due to improved tax collection, thegovernment estimates that the country will manage to finance 60% of the state budgetin 2012 (Rádio Moçambique, 12/12/2011, “Ajuda externa regista significativo declínio –Manuel Chang”).