May 08, 2013
Reconstruction in Mozambique after the floods of earlier this year could cost 517 million US dollars according to new government figures.
According to the Minister of Planning and Development, Aiuba Cuereneia, of this amount about 353 million dollars will be for reconstruction in the public sector and 164 million dollars in the private sector.
The minister was speaking on 3 May in Maputo at the annual review meeting of the donors and funding agencies who provide direct support to the Mozambican state budget, known as the Programme Aid Partners (PAPs) or G-19.
The new figure represents a large increase on the preliminary estimate given on 14 March to the country’s parliament, the Assembly of the Republic, by the Minister for State Administration, Carmelita Namashalua.
She said that the figures for damage indicated a need for at least 322 million US dollars – 309 million for the public sector and 13 million for the private sector.
Funds are needed for repairing or rebuilding schools, health units, roads, bridges, water supply sources, as well as for food aid and resettlement.
Flooding in January and February affected over 478,000 people and resulted in 117 deaths. In addition, more than 172,000 people were made homeless.
Last week the World Bank announced the revision of its macro-economic projections for Mozambique, lowering expected annual economic growth for this year from eight to seven per cent.
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