The Minister of Transport and Logistics, João Matlombe, has announced that rehabilitation works on 84 kilometers of National Road Number 1 (N1) — between Gorongosa and Caia, in Sofala province, central Mozambique — will begin soon.
The minister emphasized that the N1 is vital for the country’s development, adding that the works, set to start later this month, are budgeted at 3 billion meticais (approximately 46.5 million USD), with funding provided by the World Bank.
“The first impact of a well-maintained road is the reduction in transport costs. People will travel in less time, which is important for logistics and tourism — and for those driving private vehicles. It will also boost trade across the province and generate direct employment for those involved,” he added.
In May, the government announced that $1.1 billion (69.5 billion meticais) had already been secured for the rehabilitation of the N1, which has been deteriorated for many years, making the transport of goods and people difficult.
It is estimated that the complete rehabilitation of the 2,620 kilometers of the N1 will require a total investment of 224 billion meticais (around $3.5 billion) — a figure that far exceeds the resources currently available.
The N1, the only road linking the south, center, and north of the country, has been the scene of numerous serious traffic accidents, many of them fatal and often involving public transport vehicles — a problem attributed to speeding and the poor condition of the road in several sections.
In April 2022, the government, led at the time by former President Filipe Nyusi, announced plans to rehabilitate the N1. According to estimates released then by the Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Water Resources, the works were projected to cost $750 million.
In February of this year, the Confederation of Economic Associations (CTA) reiterated the urgency of upgrading the N1, describing it as the “backbone of the economy.” The private sector argues that improving the main road is essential to boost logistics corridors and facilitate the movement of goods and people throughout the national territory.
Source: Diário Economico
