On Wednesday (22), the government, through Boletim da República no. 80, dated 24 April 2024, announced the readjustment of water tariffs for consumers living in the three regions that make up the country, namely the South, Centre and North.
According to a statement issued by the Water Regulatory Authority (AURA), the new tariffs will come into force from next June, and the readjustment will vary by region and consumption category.
‘For example, for Maputo, Matola and Boane, the reference rate per cubic metre will increase by 13 meticals, from the current 51 meticals to 64.8. For Chongoene, Limpopo and Xai-Xai, in Gaza province, the reference rate per cubic metre will be 53.4 meticals,’ he said.
In the city of Beira, in Sofala province, where the reference rate was 47 meticals, the price will now be 57 meticals, and in Nampula, the reference rate will no longer be 53 meticals but 64 meticals.
For the cities of Gondola and Chimoio, in Manica province, the fare will be 50.2 meticals, while in Pemba, Murrébuè and Metuge, in Cabo Delgado, the price will be 59.4 meticals.
The new tariffs will come into force from next June, and the readjustment will vary by region and consumption category
The readjustment comes under the Water Supply and Sanitation Public Services Law, promulgated on Tuesday (21) by Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi.
In April, the Minister of Public Works, Housing and Water Resources, Carlos Mesquita, reported that around 18.3 million people now have access to safe drinking water in the country, setting the coverage rate at 65 per cent, an increase on the 57 per cent recorded in 2023.
He said at the time that the projects to expand the water supply system have brought positive results and are helping to develop communities living in remote areas by improving their quality of life.
‘We’ve grown in terms of coverage. Today, 65 per cent of Mozambicans have access to safe water. There are still many challenges, especially at a time when we are seeing a significant increase in the population. By the end of 2024, the sector will be implementing a number of initiatives that should have an impact on more than 600,000 people,’ he emphasised.
