Mozambique has intensified its post-Cyclone Idai reconstruction efforts with an investment exceeding $704 million, according to a report by the Mozambique News Agency (AIM). This substantial financial commitment represents 56 per cent of the planned expenditure for the ongoing reconstruction programme, which aims to rehabilitate the regions devastated by the 2019 cyclone.
During a press briefing in Maputo, Filimao Suaze, the government spokesperson, revealed that the country has successfully secured an additional $526.77 million to be allocated towards reconstruction efforts by 2026. These funds are crucial for the continued restoration of vital infrastructure and services across the affected areas.
Suaze underscored the importance of these investments, noting that the government has effectively mobilised an extra $71 million from international partners. This includes $16 million from the African Development Bank, $25 million from the Tzu Chi Foundation, and approximately $30 million from the World Bank. “All the funds mobilised are being directed toward the rehabilitation of social and other infrastructure, in line with the plan approved with our cooperation partners,” Suaze stated.
Under the ambit of the reconstruction programme, the government has completed the construction of 5,750 new homes. Additionally, 3,269 classrooms have been built or rehabilitated out of the 4,745 that were destroyed by the cyclone. The government has also restored 4,154 kilometres of roads and 28 bridges, alongside the repair of 1,066 kilometres of power transmission lines.
In the water supply and sanitation sector, the programme has notably exceeded expectations, providing clean water to at least 43,403 beneficiaries—double the initial target of 21,000.
Cyclone Idai, which struck central Mozambique in March 2019, claimed 603 lives and left an estimated 2.5 million people in its wake, prompting one of the most extensive recovery operations in the country’s history. The ongoing reconstruction efforts signify a critical phase in Mozambique’s long-term recovery, with the newly secured funds poised to accelerate progress across multiple sectors.
