The government is committed to finding financial solutions, together with cooperation and development partners, to guarantee the supply of drinking water to the population and the well-being of families.

For the construction of some supply systems, at a national level, the Government counts on the support, in the form of a donation, of the United Kingdom.

The assurance was given by the Vice-Minister of Public Works, Housing and Water Resources, Cecília Chamutota, speaking in Salamanga, Matutuíne district, Maputo province, after the inauguration of a water supply system.

The development is benefiting 3,578 people, but has an installed capacity for about 14,400 inhabitants over a 20-year horizon.

Chamutota told the newspaper Notícias that with the development the coverage rate in Salamanga will go from 41 to 91 percent, contributing to Matutuine district going from 79.4 to 81.2 percent in rural areas, benefiting about 35,456 people.

"This water is captured from the Maputo River and this requires costly treatment, unlike other systems we have built in rural areas, where this liquid is underground and requires only disinfection and not a treatment similar to this Salamanga system," he said.

This year, in Maputo province, construction work is already underway on 15 dispersed water sources, the intervention of six systems, namely in the districts of Boane, Magude, Manhiça and Marracuene.

He added that with these actions the water supply coverage rate in rural areas is expected to increase from 60.2 to 62.2%, benefiting about 544,798 people.

"In the provision of water supply service among the great challenges, we consider one that is the greatest of all: to guarantee the sustainability of that same service, after the system is put into operation," he said.

For her part, NnenNe Iwuji, High Commissioner of the United Kingdom, said that the government of her country has invested in this project about five hundred and seventy thousand dollars, the equivalent of about 36 million meticais.

He mentioned that since 2016 the UK has a package of support to the Government of Mozambique in the provision of basic water supply, hygiene and sanitation services for rural areas.

"This support is complemented by capacity building of the institutions that provide these services at the three different levels, central, provincial and district, accompanied by technical assistance contracted for this purpose," he said.