Maputo, 24 Jan (AIM) – Mozambique’s National Road Administration (ANE) needs almost 800 million meticais (12.5 million dollars at the current exchange rate) to guarantee total accessibility of roads in the northern province of Nampula.
According to the ANE contingency plan for the current rainy season, for the time being, despite the rain that has fallen, all the district capitals are connected to the provincial capital, Nampula City, although in some places traffic is limited.
“The road network is currently 955 kilometres (25 per cent) in good condition; 1,075 kilometres (27 per cent) in reasonable condition; 791 kilometres (20 per cent) in poor condition; 842 kilometres (21 per cent) in very poor condition; and 310 kilometres (eight per cent) impassable”, the plan says.
In total, Nampula province has 6,305 kilometers of roads, of which 4,013 are classified. Of this road network, 948.65 kilometres are paved and the remaining 5,356.35 are not, which suggests high levels of vulnerability in the rainy season.
The currently impassable roads, which stretch for 310 kilometres, are spread across the districts of Mossuril, Mecubúri, Nacarôa, Memba, Malema, Lalaua and Eráti, a situation that has prevailed since the previous rainy season.
“ANE has mapped the roads with potential risks of washouts and flooding in the districts of Ribáuè, Lalaua, Mecubúri, Malema, Mogovolas, Angoche, Moma, Larde, Liupo, Meconta, Nacala-à-Velha, Memba and Mogincual”, reads the plan.
In addition to deploying its technicians and inspectors on the ground, the ANE has activated the eight building contractors with whom it has contracts for emergency interventions.
According to the Secretary of State for Nampula, Jaime Neto, the contractors will continue to provide their services, since they have legal contracts with the government.
“These contractors have contracts with the government and all the work they do will be paid for. It may not be immediately, but as resources become available the state will provide this money in order to compensate them for the work they have done”, he said.
(AIM)
RI/Ad/pf (333)
