The dam was being built for agricultural purposes by the Mafambisse sugar company. Construction of the dam blocked the water course, and so the Muda bust its banks.
This unexpected flood also destroyed a rural school, forcing the 160 pupils to continue their lessons underneath trees. The river drowned crops belonging to 500 peasant farmers.
The local government secretary, Paulo Francisco, said "several animals, notably goats and chickens, died in the waters.
I personally have lost nine pigs. It's lamentable".
The Nhamatanda district administrator, Paulo Majacunene, declared "the sugar company has recognised its mistake, and will take responsibility for compensation".
It seems the company had done its sums wrong, and had not forecast that the rise in the river would engulf residential areas.
On a visit to Nhamatanda, Sofala provincial governor Alberto Vaquina said it had not been expected that flood waters would destroy crops and inundate homes.
"Now that the problem has happened, the government and the sugar company will have to find a way out", he admitted.
The director of the dam project, Rob Archibald, said the company and the local authorities are undertaking a survey to know exactly how many people have been affected by the flood and will require compensation.
SOURCE: AIM
