Coastal protection is a priority, critical to building investor confidence in Beira – Mozambique

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Coastal protection is a priority, critical to building investor confidence in Beira – Mozambique

12:28 CAT | 27 Feb 2020

Photo: Conselho Municipal d Beira

Coastal protection is a priority among investments in the city of Beira in central Mozambique, not only to counter new threats, but also as a result of Cyclone Idai, almost one year on, president of the municipality Daviz Simango told Lusa today.

“Our coastal protection infrastructure must be rebuilt, and stabilised so that investors can have confidence in Beira,” the mayor said.

A coastal city built on reclaimed swamp-land below sea level, Beira depends on the seashore to defend it from the tides, but part of the stone barriers there were destroyed by Cyclone Idai.

A stroll through the Praia Nova neighbourhood reveals the degree of destruction, with the protective structures extending into the sea there broken in several places. Elsewhere on the beach, rusty old boats serve as a barrier.

But this scenario is about to change. Mayor Simango said international donors had made €65 million available for coastal protection rehabilitation to start in the middle of this year.

ALSO READ: Mozambique: 65 million dollars available for Beira coastal protection – AIM report

“Why is this a priority? Because otherwise the city could be inundated, and [if nothing is done] this will discourage investment,” he noted.

The second priority is the expansion of the drainage system, with the construction of a second retention basin to prevent flooding in various neighbourhoods.

Daviz Simango told Lusa that the past year had been taken up providing emergency assistance to the population, carrying out surveys and rallying donors so that large-scale work could start.

By 2021, several projects would be in evidence, he concluded.

The current October-April rainy season in Mozambique has seen 54 people lose their lives, and has affected around 65,000, many with flooded homes, according to INGC data.

The 2018-2019 rainy season was one of the most severe in memory. Two cyclones – Idai and Kenneth – hit Mozambique, claiming 648 out of a total of 714 casualties.

Source: Lusa