CASHEW PLANTS SHUT DOWN

OVER 2200 workers will be retrenched in early February when another two Mozambican cashew processing plants close. This brings to 11 the number of plants forced to close over the past five years because of nut shortages and crumbling infrastructure. Only four sizable plants remain. Cashew Industry Association chairman Keko Patel said the closure of Portuguese-owned Manapo and Angoche plants will seriously affect the local economies.