Last Friday (14), the Minister of Public Works, Housing and Water Resources, Fernando Rafael, laid the foundation stone for the construction of 2,067 resilient homes in the resettlement district of the Guara-Guara administrative post, in the district of Búzi, in Sofala province..

The project, funded by the Tzu-Chi Charitable Foundation and budgeted at around 33.5 million dollars, will benefit more than 10,000 people and is part of the Post-Cyclone Housing Program (PALPOC), which aims to rebuild homes destroyed by Cyclones Idai and Kenneth in 2019.

"More than the construction of housing, this project is also a symbol of hope, resilience and inclusion for all Mozambicans facing climatic challenges and natural disasters. This resettlement neighborhood is strategically located, close to essential social infrastructures such as hospitals, schools and water supply systems, recently built as part of post-cyclone reconstruction, guaranteeing easy access to basic services," said Fernando Rafael.

On the occasion, the president called for resilience standards to be observed in the construction of housing, urging inspectors and contractors to strictly comply with the contractual conditions, guaranteeing the delivery of quality, safe and resilient housing within the stipulated deadlines.

The ceremony was attended by the Governor of Sofala Province António Bulha, the Executive Director of the Post-Cyclone Reconstruction Office (GREPOC), Luís Paulo and Sheila Chambale, a representative of the Tzu Chi Charity Foundation, which is one of the partners in the PALPOC program, having financed the construction of more than 3,000 houses since 2021, including the 410 delivered in Metuchira in June 2024.

(Photo DR)