China interested in building entirely new north-south highway in Mozambique
Mozambique government and partners invest more than US$170 million in road reconstruction
7:18 CAT | 28 Jan 2017
Folha de Maputo (File photo) For illustration purposes only
The Mozambican government, in partnership with the World Bank and the British Department for International Development (DFID), is to invest US$170.5 million in the second phase of road rebuilding in the southern province of Gaza.
The Mozambican government will spend US$42.5 million, with the World Bank and DFID contributing US$113 million and US$15 million respectively.
The reconstruction works cover 190 kilometres of roads damaged during the 2012/2013 floods in Guijá, Chókwè, Macarretane, Maniquinique, Chilembene and Marapá.
The first phase comprised the emergency rehabilitation of these sections in 2014-2015, and the new financing will ensure that the second phase of rehabilitation, expected to last 18 months, begins in February.
Speaking after the signing of an agreement by the director general of ANE, Marco dos Anjos and the contractors, Minister of Public Works, Housing and Water Resources Carlos Bonete Martinho said the first phase had cost US$15 million.
“The implementation is divided into two phases. The first phase comprised immediate repairs with a view to restoring usability. These works took place in 2014 and 2015 and were budgeted at US$15 million.”
The government expects the second phase works to have the quality necessary to withstand climate change and to be finished on time, the minister added.
World Bank representative Kulwinder Singh Rao said that the funding was aimed at improving the condition of roads and bridges and strengthening road sector management and administration capacity.
The second installment will support emergency works and other local interventions in Gaza, as well as more advanced works to help reduce future flood damage.
Four companies have been contracted for the rehabilitation works: Chinese construction company Zhonghumei Engineering Group, China Henn International Corporation Group, Mota-Engil and SBI International Holding.
The Mozambique rainy season, between October and March, regularly displaces thousands of people with the loss of hundreds of lives.
Source: AIM Moçambique
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