Mozal has just reaffirmed its commitment to building infrastructure for community development in Maputo province.

This Tuesday, the company launched a project to build two bridges on the stretch of road linking Beluluane to the Chinonanquila neighborhood, km 16.

Valued at 71.6 million Meticais, an amount fully financed by the Mozal Aluminum Smelting Plant, the works will benefit around 71,000 people living in the Djonasse and Djuba neighborhoods, in the municipality of Vila da Matola-Rio, Maputo province.

According to a press release, the construction of this infrastructure will improve road access for local communities, especially during rainy periods, as well as boosting the region's economic development. On the other hand, once the road is passable, it will reduce the flow along the Mozal road, allowing for greater traffic flexibility.

The President of the Matola-Rio Municipal Council, Abdul Gafur Momade Issufo, led the ceremony to launch the project and stressed that the construction of this infrastructure is crucial to ensure the continuous connection of families in the Chinonanquila, Djuba, Djonasse, Beluluane neighborhoods and beyond.

"This investment not only improves the quality of life of our population, but also boosts the development of our town and represents our firm commitment to guaranteeing better conditions and safety for all our residents.

We know that during the rainy season many communities face serious difficulties in getting around, becoming isolated and seeing their daily routine profoundly affected. As a municipality we have a duty to find concrete solutions to minimize these challenges.

It was for this purpose that the Municipality of Matola-Rio entered into a strategic partnership with the Mozal company to build these two bridges over the KM16 Beleluane road".

Samuel Samo Gudo, Chairman of Mozal's Board of Directors, said that the project is part of the company's Social Responsibility strategy and aims to respond to the difficulties faced by communities during the rainy season.

"In March 2024, we learned that the rains caused flooding on the KM16-Beluluane road, affecting a large part of the communities in the Djuba and Djonasse neighborhoods. This situation generated serious mobility difficulties, compromising access to essential services such as transport, health and education, as well as limiting the circulation of goods and services, impacting the dynamization of the local economy.

Sensitized by this situation, Mozal joined forces with the Municipality of Matola-Rio to find a sustainable solution. Together, we identified the need to build two bridges at the

critical points of the KM16-Beluluane road to minimize the impacts of flooding and ensure the safe mobility of people and goods," said Mozal's PCA.

The secretary of the Djonasse neighborhood, Vitorino Sitoe, welcomed the initiative and said on the occasion that the project would alleviate the challenges faced by the population in the two neighborhoods, especially during rainy periods.

"When it rains, it's practically impossible to drive on some parts of this road, the same ones that will benefit from the work. We thank Mozal for this initiative."

With a duration of approximately six months, the work includes the construction from scratch of two bridges, one in the Djonasse neighborhood and the other in the Djuba neighborhood. Around 80 jobs will be created during the construction phase.

Since its establishment in 1998, Mozal has been a partner in the day-to-day life of the surrounding communities, listening and acting to improve their quality of life. And this commitment remains intact, reflected in strategic investments in four key areas for sustainable development: Education and Leadership, Health and Well-being, Economic Participation, Resilience and Natural Resources.

All initiatives in these areas are developed and implemented in conjunction with the government and other partners, ensuring that the solutions implemented respond to the real needs of the communities.