Despite having 25 rivers and regular flooding, Mozambique remains among the eight countries worldwide with the worst drinking water supply systems, according to the World Water Council.
Less than 50% of Mozambique’s 31 million inhabitants have access to safe drinking water, forcing many residents to travel long distances or use contaminated sources.
“We wash our clothes and drink the same water because of poverty,” said an elderly woman identified only as Fatima in Govuro district.
“The water transmits diseases, but what can you do when you’re thirsty?”
In Maputo’s densely populated Polana Canico neighbourhood, residents go up to three days without running water.
“We don’t have water in our homes. All the people in the region are here looking for water. We are suffering,” said Susana Armando, who wakes up early searching for water from any available source.
Some city residents resort to collecting water from drainage ditches along major roadways, despite obvious health risks.
Agostinho Vilanculos, head of River Basin Management at the National Directorate of Water Resources, cited unlicensed water providers and significant water loss during distribution as major challenges.
“A significant portion of the water that is treated and pumped for human consumption is lost for various reasons, leading to high costs,” Vilanculos said.
Mozambique recently joined an African Union climate initiative spanning 15 countries.
The project allocated $399,843 to help Mozambique prepare investment programs for water infrastructure.
“This project is going to support countries to prepare climate water resilient investment programmes,” said Jose Alvaro Malanco, National Technical Coordinator.
“It can be strengthening agriculture or building water infrastructure like small dams so that water can benefit the community.”
By Charles Mangwiro, AfricaBrief