The Mozambican government is mobilizing 30 million US dollars for asphalting work on 35 kilometers of highway 104, between the district of Malema, in the province of Nampula, and Cuamba, in Niassa.

Negotiations are currently underway between the government and the European Union, with a view to allocating the fund. The Minister of Public Works, Housing and Water Resources, Carlos Mesquita, who disclosed the fact during his working visit to Nampula province, explained that the works should also include some interventions in hydraulic infrastructures, such as aqueducts and bridges.

According to the newspaper Notícias, Mesquita was speaking to journalists after learning about the asphalting work on the road from the town of Malema to the village of Canhunha, a stretch of 10 kilometers, which is at an advanced stage of execution and is expected to be completed in June.

The conclusion of the works was delayed several times, among other reasons due to the suspension of the first construction company, Gabriel Couto, for not meeting the deadlines. After the suspension of the company, the Government hired Jic to resume the asphalting work in January 2021, and the completion and delivery to the Executive should have happened in August of that year, but the new contractor was also unable to honor the agreed deadlines.

The asphalting of the 10 kilometers is financed by the African Development Bank (ADB) and the government in the amount of 482 million meticais.

The minister said he believes that the works will be of the desired quality, since, on the ground, some guarantees have been given by the inspector and the contractor.