Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado Reconstruction Plan, approved last week by the Council of Ministers, is budgeted at US$300 million, the country’s prime minister announced yesterday.
“The total budget for this plan is around 300 million dollars, of which approximately 200 million are earmarked for the implementation of short-term actions”, said Carlos Agostinho do Rosário, during a presentation to international partners yesterday.
Short-term actions must be implemented within one year and include “replacement of public administration, health facilities, schools, energy, water supply, sanitation, telecommunications, access roads, civil identification, psychosocial support and self-employment, above all for young people”, among others.
The Mozambican Prime Minister stressed that “the work of rebuilding infrastructure and the human tissue is immense” maintaining that “it is necessary to continue to strengthen the synergies between the Government, cooperation partners, the private sector and other stakeholders” in order to act “more swiftly”.
“Our expectation is that, based on this document, partners will be able to identify the areas of intervention and indicate how they can join the Government’s efforts in mobilizing resources for the implementation of this plan”, the Prime Minister said.
Carlos Agostinho do Rosário said that some measures are already underway, such as assistance with food and other goods, including shelter kits for the populations of the districts of Quissanga, Nangade, Macomia, Palma and Mocímboa da Praia.
Also read: MCA releases Mozambique investment guide
There is also a gradual resumption of basic social benefit payments in the districts of Nangade, Mueda, Quissanga, Ibo and Macomia.
The replacement of electricity infrastructure in Awasse, Mueda, Nangade and Mocímboa da Praia, the gradual restoration of mobile communications and the rehabilitation of roads were some examples given by the government official.
The prime minister underlined that the plan is the “single document for the emergency reconstruction of the northern districts of Cabo Delgado and does not replace other development plans for the northern provinces”.
Cabo Delgado province is rich in natural gas, but the area has been terrorized since 2017 by armed rebels, with some attacks claimed by the Islamic State extremist group.
Since July, an offensive by government troops with the support of Rwanda, which was later joined by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has increased security, recovering several areas where there was a presence of rebels, namely the town of Mocímboa da Praia, which had been occupied since August 2020.
