Suppliers · 6 min read
How to source and verify suppliers in Mozambique
Procurement failures in Mozambique are almost always verification failures. A disciplined process removes most of the risk before money moves.
Start with the legal basics
Confirm commercial registration, NUIT, tax standing and that the entity you are contracting with is the entity that will actually perform.
Verify capacity, not claims
Visit premises, look at equipment, ask for two comparable completed contracts and phone those references yourself. Capacity claims are routinely optimistic.
Compare landed cost, not quotes
When weighing local supply against import, include duty, VAT, clearance, transport, lead time and failure risk. The cheap quote is frequently the expensive outcome.
Structure payment to protect yourself
Use milestones, retain a final portion against inspection and acceptance, and avoid large upfront deposits to unproven counterparties.
Local content is an advantage
Building a verified Mozambican supplier base helps with major project eligibility, reduces lead times and creates goodwill with regulators and communities.