The government of Mozambique has launched a new drinking water system inaugurated in Nhamatanda in the province of Sofala. The country’s President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi inaugurated the project which aims at improving the country’s access to potable water.
The project includes an additional 18 km of water distribution network, 14 new public standpipes, and new household connections, enhancing the overall infrastructure. The Mozambican Ministry of Public Works, Housing, and Water Resources emphasized the strategic design of the system to support three times the current demand, addressing both present and future needs.
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Bilateral agreement
The US $3M infrastructure project was financed through a bilateral agreement between the Mozambican and German governments, facilitated by the German Development Agency (KfW). The water system now serves 18,000 people, a substantial increase from the previous 3,000 inhabitants served by a smaller, non-potable system.
This project is part of broader efforts to improve drinking water supply in Sofala province, including seven additional water supply schemes in Buzi, Nhamatanda, and Dondo districts. It also aligns with Mozambique’s broader goals of enhancing public health and living conditions through improved access to clean drinking water.
In addition to this project, the German government has a portfolio of investments in Sofala province totalling approximately US $96M. These investments cover strategic areas such as good governance, support for the decentralisation process, development of the private and financial sectors, education and vocational training and energy, according to the official statement.
Water security, sanitation, and hygiene needs in Mozambique are significant. In 2022, it was estimated that only 63% of Mozambicans had access to basic water services. The sanitation sector is even more challenging, only 38% of the population had access to basic sanitation facilities.
