The cities of Maputo, Beira, Quelimane, Tete and Nampula will have better sanitation conditions in the near future thanks to a 165 million dollar investment for the construction and expansion of existing systems.
The interventions will benefit close to 200,000 people living mostly in areas with serious sanitation problems and deficiencies in wastewater treatment and sewage networks.
The project is funded by the World Bank as part of efforts to ensure access to safe sanitation in large cities. The initial budget was $115 million, but $50 million has been added to respond to the covid-19 emergency and to cover fluctuating market prices.
Last week a World Bank mission was in the country with the objective of providing technical support in the implementation of the Urban Sanitation Project (PSU).
According to data cited by “Notícias”, the amount will be applied in the construction and/or rehabilitation of wastewater treatment systems and sewage networks, interventions in sanitation infrastructure, strengthening the capacity of service provision through grants and training of human resources.
In the peri-urban areas of Tete and Quelimane, where much of the population lives in poverty, small and medium scale drainage systems will be built to reduce the risks of urban flooding.
Additional benefits include access to improved sanitation facilities in public places such as public transport stops, markets and schools.
It will also support the local private sector active in fecal sludge management services through business development and operational service training.
Municipal officials from the cities of Maputo, Quelimane, Tete, Beira and Nampula are also expected to improve their skills through specialized training in sanitation.
The initiative is implemented by the Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Water Resources (MOPHRH), through
the National Directorate of Water Supply and Sanitation (DNAAS) and the Water Infrastructure and Sanitation Administration (AIAS).
