Mozambican authorities need 45 billion meticais (€60.8 million) for “permanent” restoration of roads affected by rains in Gaza province in the south of the country, an official source said today.
“We need an estimated value of 45 billion for restoration and permanent solutions,” said Dulcidio Dove, a technician at the National Road Administration (ANE) in Gaza. The funds would be applied to road surfacing and asphalting of a 1,500-kilometre stretch of the road network, as well as the restoration of affected bridges. “We also have 28 compromised bridges and 300 affected culverts,” Dove said, urging road users in the province to respect the signs placed by authorities on various sections.
Dove noted the figure could change given the ongoing heavy rainfall in the province, with National Road 320 on the Chissano-Chibuto stretch currently at risk due to soil collapse in recently repaired areas.
On Wednesday, ANE announced that at least 3,500 kilometres of road will be worked on — between rehabilitation and new construction across the country — under the 2026-2031 Accelerated National Road Rehabilitation and Construction Project, due to begin in the second half of this year.
Read more about this topic: Mozambique: new floods hit central Maputo again
Mozambique is considered one of the African countries most exposed to the effects of climate change, frequently facing floods, storms and tropical cyclones during the rainy season, which runs from October to April. The death toll in the current rainy season stands at 270, with nearly 870,000 people affected since October, according to the March 9 update from the National Disaster Risk Management Institute (INGD). INGD data also shows 399,749 hectares of agricultural land lost, 530,998 animals dead — including cattle, goats and poultry — and 7,845 kilometres of roads, 36 bridges and 123 culverts affected. Since October, 149 accommodation centres have been activated, having sheltered up to 113,478 people, with 19 still active housing at least 5,611 people, and 6,931 people having required rescue.
