Continuing to rebuild after the floods

Efforts by the Mozambican government to rebuild areas devastated by floods over the past two years were highlighted at a flood reconstruction conference held in the capital Maputo earlier this month. Minister of Planning and Finance Luisa Diogo, presented the progress report of the post-flood reconstruction programme of 2000. She noted that agreements had been signed for US $471 million and to date about US $192.2 million has been disbursed for development activities. She said that the government planned to continue the implementation of the programme reaching US $250 million in 2001 with full disbursement by the beginning of 2002. The government also presented the 2001 Post Floods Reconstruction Programme for the central region of the country. It said the main objective of the programme was the resettlement of the population, resumption of food production, resumption of basic services, and reconstruction or construction of basic infrastructures to reduce vulnerability. The government noted that the programme should be seen as part of its five-year strategy to reduce absolute poverty. It added that an estimated US $132 million was needed to implement the reconstruction programme. The government said that it expected to spend US $36.4 million on the social sectors, US $51.8 million on rehabilitating basic infrastructure, US $23.2 million on productive sectors and US $20.3 million will be directed to reduce vulnerability to disasters in the central region in the country. Meanwhile, the World Bank said in a recent statement that it has given Mozambique about US$195.6 million to assist the government in improving road sector management and strengthening the capacity of municipal governments to provide quality infrastructure and services. The US $162 million roads and bridges management and maintenance program is part of a 10-year programme designed to help stimulate growth and contribute to poverty reduction through improved road infrastructure, sector policies and road sector management. The Bank said the programme would also help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and encourage employment of women in the roads sector. It said that the remaining US $33.6 million for the municipal development project, would be used to strengthen the capacity of municipal governments in the areas of management, finance and the provision of infrastructure and services.