This involves 40 projects totalling 786 million USD, under the Road Sector Strategic Plan (RSSP) 2007/2011, recently approved by the government.
Of this number, ANE has already picked 13 projects, covering 1,656 kilometers of the road network, with an estimated cost of 429 million USD, which will be implemented over the three-year period 2007/2009.
Mozambique's road system consists of nearly 30,000 kilometers of roads, of which less than 20 percent are paved.
In general, the condition of the paved network system is better than unpaved network. Almost half the unpaved roads are in poor state and only 57 per cent are passable by normal vehicles.
According to a source from ANE, all the roads to the rehabilitated and upgraded fall under the category of primary roads, excluding the stretch Macarretane/Massingir, in the southern province of Gaza, and Macomia/Oasse, in the northern province of Cabo Delgado.
The International Development Association (IDA) has already disbursed the funds for the rehabilitation of three sections of the main highway North South (EN1), namely the stretches Jardim/Benfica, Xai-Xai/Zandamela/Chissibuca and Massinga/Nhachengue. These are included in ANE's top priority list.
Other projects include the road Vandúzi/Changara in Zambezia and Macarretane/Massingir in Gaza. Despite being graded as secondary roads, these are to be repaired with funds provided by OPEC.
As for the projects for upgrading the roads, RSSP has elected EN14, also known by the name of Montepuez Corridor, that includes the stretches Ruaça/Montepuez, in Cabo Delgado, Marrupa/Ruaça and Lichinga/Litunde, in Niassa.
These projects are expected to begin in 2008 and completed by 2009.
According to the governor of Niassa province, Arnaldo Bimbe, the plan is to keep roads open almost all year, in almost all weather, between the towns of Lichinga and Pemba, and secure the shipment of goods produced in Niassa through the Port of Pemba.
As for the stretch Cuamba/Nampula, running for 335 kilometers, and funded by the Japanese government, the works are expected to begin by 2008, and completed within the next four years.
The works Gúruè/Magige, is part of the Niassa Corridor, which includes the stretch Nampevo/Gúruè/Cuamba/Lichinga, and is to be funded by the Islamic Bank for Development.
As for the stretch Mocuba/Milange, running for 171 kilometers, one of the regional corridors, which is also part regional integration, the European Union has pledged funds for its rehabilitation, and the works are expected to begin by 2008 and proceed until 2011.
Other projects that could be executed, in both phases 2 and 3, will depend on the availability of funds and these include the roads Boane/ Ponta d'Ouro (EN200), Nampula/Nametil (EN104), Moamba/Magude, Sussundenga/Chimoio and Espungabera/Sussundenga, Matema/Mualaze, Moma/Angoche and Oasse/Ponte da Unidade, that links Mozambique and Tanzania.
SOURCE: AIM
