05
CONCLUSION
Of course, the IMF and World Bank are
not the only financial institutions on
the block. Indeed, China is becoming an
increasingly important player due to its
more flexible loan packages (Ryder and Fu,
2021). While these tend to impose fewer
conditionalities, they are still focused
primarily on promoting a resource driven
development. However, is it precisely
this resource-driven model, marked by a
narrowing economic base and increasing
hegemony of the extractive economy,
which made African countries so vulnerable
to the Covid-19 pandemic in the first
place. Ultimately, Mozambique needs a
people-centred development model. The
conditionalities imposed by the IMF and
World Bank have undoubtedly undermined
the national development processes. As
Plank (1993) highlighted almost 30 years
ago, “the burden of the reforms has fallen
disproportionately on the poor because of
the reductions in subsidies, public-sector
employment, and social expenditure that
structural changes require” (p. 416). Yet
to challenge these requires both strong
global justice movement and alternative
sources of financing that prioritize human
development over market interests.
“Ultimately, Mozambique needs
a people-centred development
model. The conditionalities imposed
by the IMF and World Bank have
undoubtedly undermined the
national development processes.“
34
Fast-tracking Financialization - International Financial Institutions’ Responses
to the Covid-19 Pandemic in Mozambique