The Center for Public Integrity (CIP) reveals that the roads used by extractive industry companies in Mozambique are in complete degradation and criticizes the Government's weak investment in infrastructure.

On visits to Africa Great Wall Maning Company, HAMC-Highland African Mining Company, Lda, Kenmare, Jidal Steel and Montepuez Ruby Mining, it was found that the access roads to these companies, which also serve as a means for the operationalization of their activities, are completely damaged," reads an article in CIP.

The NGO points out that the causes of the degradation are the intensity of the activities of these companies carried out ?with high tonnage trucks? ? which makes it difficult, through these roads, to access the fields of state teams for inspection and tax collection ? and the lack of government intervention to ensure the good condition of the roads.

The CIP says that such roads exist prior to the extractive companies and are therefore of common use for the communities that need them for their socioeconomic development. However, ?some of the large companies in the sector build infrastructure that facilitates their [own] logistics. But, their use is restricted to them, not creating links between the company and the local economy, which can contribute to an integrated development in the communities that host these projects?

Among the companies prohibiting communities from using the roads are Kenmare, in Nampula, and the Africa Great Wall Maning Company, in Zambezia.

CIP criticizes the Government's weak investment in access roads, which, if done, could boost national economic development. Mozambique has invested over the last fourteen years about 348 billion meticals in various infrastructures. This figure represents an average annual investment of 24 billion meticais, which corresponds to an average of 5% of the annual GDP, writes CIP.

Looking at Mozambique's spending over the period 2010-2023, it can be seen that, in general terms, the country has invested well below the standards indicated by the World Bank study. In the period indicated, the country invested, on average, 5% of GDP in infrastructure, that is, 25% less than recommended?