Mozambique: Erosion slowly swallowing historic Zambézia town of Chinde

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Mozambique: Erosion slowly swallowing historic Zambézia town of Chinde

2:50 CAT | 11 Nov 2020

Photo: O País

The capital town of Chinde district in Zambézia is on the verge of disappearing, unless bolder measures are taken to counter erosion. The strength of the Zambezi River and the Indian Ocean are worsening the situation with each passing day.

Chinde district is an important part of Mozambique’s cultural heritage, second only to the Island of Mozambique, in Nampula province.

The town of Chinde is being consumed little by little by the waters of both the Indian Ocean and the Zambezi river. The situation has worsened in the past five years, which have seen more than 500 metres taken by the waters. Some families in the area have left their homes because of the danger to which they were exposed.

Governor of Zambézia, Pio de Matos, says that something must be done to stop the water causing erosion.

“What you have to do doesn’t need a lot of engineering: you have to put up a [retaining] wall to protect the land. If you ask how much that would cost and where to get the money, that answer doesn’t exist, but it is exhausting to see the place gradually disappear, sitting in a situation of total impotence,” he says.

Chinde’s capital town has around 97,000 inhabitants.

Source: O País