The Government has stated that the state-owned company Portos e Caminhos-de-Ferro de Moçambique (CFM) represents the “backbone of the economy and drives national development,” affirming that the company’s 130-year milestone is a significant mark for the country.
Speaking this Tuesday (July 8) in Maputo during the ceremony celebrating CFM’s anniversary, the Head of State, Daniel Chapo, said that “railway lines have brought the hinterland closer to the coast, rural areas to urban centers, and connected Mozambique to neighboring countries such as South Africa, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia, and Eswatini, leading to the creation of many towns around railway stations.”
The President also noted that the enterprise had become, “through the hands and sweat of Mozambicans, a powerful tool of territorial cohesion, economic and social development, citizenship building, and national affirmation.”
“At today’s celebration, we are not just commemorating a historical date, but rather celebrating our ability to resist, to transform, to dream, and to shape the future,” he added.
The company Portos e Caminhos-de-Ferro de Moçambique, formerly known as the “Port and Railway Services of the Colony of Mozambique,” was established in 1931 with the purpose of unifying the colony’s logistics services, focusing on rail and maritime transport.
In April, it was reported that CFM’s operational results reached nearly 2.5 billion meticais (38.7 million USD) in 2024, a 55% increase compared to the 1.6 billion meticais (24.8 million USD) recorded in 2023.
At the time, the Chairman of the Board (PCA), Agostinho Langa, explained that the figures reflected positive performance despite the challenges faced last year, including the impact of several months of post-election social unrest and climate change.
“In terms of planned investments for 2024, the company allocated 7.6 billion meticais (117.9 million USD), achieving 95% of the execution plan. Of this amount, 68%—equivalent to 5.1 billion meticais (79.1 million USD)—was invested in railway infrastructure operated by CFM, mainly in the rehabilitation of railway lines and the acquisition of rolling stock, such as wagons and locomotives,” he said.
Source: DE
