The Dutch socialists have today raised parliamentary questions about the holiday home which crown-prince William-Alexander wants to build for himself and wife Maximá in Mozambique.
The Socialist Party's MP Ewout Irrgang cites reports stating that local Machangula regional councillors, police and tribal chiefs were 'bribed with free houses' by the South African project developers. They wanted to know whether the prince was really involved in this project on the Machangula peninsula- and if he was, he should have his head read for supporting such bribery practices. They cited reports from today's influential publication Haagsche Post/De Tijd.
See World Bank Report for a 'tourism-development project loan', for 2005-2008 -- and which described this Peninsula as one of the most beautiful, pristine natural areas still left in the world: Read the report here
Plans for the place now are running at full clip however -- with thirty houses already built and massive plans for foreigners' luxury holiday-homes and a five-star hotel, schools and a harbour. More here and here.
The HP/deTijd writes that the local tribal chief, his assistant, the local government official and the police chief each were given a free house from the project-developer.
The anti-corruption organisation Transparency International says that while this is 'not unusual in Africa, it remains bribery.'
- Irrgang wanted to know from the minister of development aid Bert Koenders of the co-ruling labour party whether the royal couple were really involved in the Machangulo project -- and noted that this would be 'very unwise. '
- "This reeks of corruption and bribery from all sides. If Western companies can use the excuse of 'African culture' as an excuse to pay bribes, Africa's corruption will just get worse.'
The Dutch government's information website also noted that 'more than thirty houses have been built for local government functionaries, teachers, nurses and chiefs on the peninsula.'