Mozambique: CFM needs to mobilise around $10 million to restore damaged infrastructure

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Mozambique: CFM needs to mobilise around $10 million to restore damaged infrastructure

5:41 CAT | 02 Jan 2025

FILE - Agostinho Francisco Langa Júnior, President of the Board of Directors of the Mozambique Railways, CFM. [File photo: TVM]

The restoration of railway infrastructure, including over 200 meters of vandalised railway tracks, electronic equipment, and railway stations—particularly those at Tenga and Matola Gare—will require an investment of approximately $10 million by the Mozambican government.

This information was shared on Tuesday (31) by the Chairman of the Board of Mozambique Ports and Railways (CFM), Agostinho Langa, during a visit by President Filipe Nyusi to Moamba district to assess the extent of the damage caused by violent protests over the 9 October 2024 election results.

“The assessment conducted so far shows damages amounting to about $10 million,” said Langa.

The Tenga and Matola Gare stations were highlighted as clear examples of the vandalism.

“In addition to the track we had set up, we now need to rebuild the Tenga station, which was set on fire, and restore the communication system. Matola Gare was also vandalised, although fortunately only the surrounding area was burned,” he explained.

Other affected sites include Catema station, on the Sena line, which was also set on fire, and the Missito bridge.

Langa noted that repairing the railway lines is not particularly difficult, requiring just two days of stability.

“If we are given two days of peace, we can repair all the damage caused, especially on the railway lines,” he said.

In contrast, restoring the railway stations will take more time due to the complexity of the work involved.

“As for the stations, we will need some time because the electronic equipment that was destroyed will need to be replaced, and some of it may need to be imported, such as the entire weighing system at Ressano Garcia,” Langa added.

He further explained that the necessary equipment must be imported from neighbouring South Africa, where most companies are closed for the Christmas and New Year holidays, meaning they will need to wait.

Despite the setbacks, Langa reassured the public, stating, “These acts of vandalism do not prevent trains from operating, although there is a slight lack of security because we will be transporting heavier wagons, which could pose risks to train operations.”

He clarified that the suspension of train services in some areas, and the continued operation of others, is part of CFM’s social responsibility.

“We practically operate passenger trains at a cost equivalent to 15% of the actual ticket price, so we are almost providing the service for free compared to semi-collective passenger transport, which costs five times more than a train ticket.”

Against this backdrop, President Filipe Nyusi travelled by train from Ressano Garcia to Maputo Central Station to evaluate the damage caused to the railway infrastructure.

During his visit to Tenga station, Nyusi assessed the level of destruction and questioned the connection between politics and the railway station, which serves people of all political, religious, and ethnic backgrounds. He emphasised that identifying the culprits of the vandalism is not the priority.

“For us, it is not important to point fingers. People must become aware of the need to protect what serves them, as seen among Tenga residents who ask for water, electricity, and accessible transportation, aside from the more expensive chapas,” he stated.

He added that the population is aware that certain things need to change and urged the protection of both public and private property.

Source: AIM