"Dreaming, desiring, and mentalizing are basic prerequisites for man to achieve a certain purpose", so says a popular adage, and reality proves it. However, in Mozambique the situation is different for many, because the challenges almost exceed the capacity of the Mozambicans' aspirations! And the numbers prove this reality, there are more challenges than successes achieved!

46 years ago, when Mozambique had just achieved its independence from Portuguese colonialism, hunger was the only problem facing the country. Even though there were other challenges, they did not impact society as much. Today, the problems have increased so much and are visible in almost every area that they outnumber the country's population today.

Indeed, in Mozambique the challenges are greater than the aspirations of many citizens, which leads to a mismatch between population growth and the economic development of the country culminating in the dissolution of all personal efforts as well as the government's.

According to science, one of the tasks of statistics is to help decision-makers in defining policies for the development of a nation as well as to warn them about possible risks. Egas Daniel, an economist at the IGC of the London School of Economics, stresses this: "they are a valid resource, and allow us to make comparisons of indicators over time and to be indicative of sectors that need greater intervention anywhere in the world and in Mozambique.

In economist Daniel's view, in any case, the statistics give an overview of the economic and social situation, allowing for discussion and reflection on mitigating measures for the country's challenges.

In this regard, the work of INE, by the way the only and main entity responsible for statistics in the country, does not escape the rule. The report of the IV Population Census conducted in 2017 by INE is unequivocal proof that statistics are relevant for adopting development policies in the country.

Data from the IV Census of 2017, indicated that Mozambique at the time had about 30 million inhabitants. Moreover, the report also indicates that the Mozambican population has been experiencing considerable growth in recent years, as in the last three decades alone, the country has averaged 2% annually which challenges, above all, the provision of basic public services to all Mozambicans, adding to the challenges already faced.

The INE report states that, as a result of this demographic increase, the Mozambican population went from 16.1 million inhabitants to 20.5 million inhabitants and 28.9 million inhabitants in 1997, 2007 and 2017, respectively.

Access to housing has increased inequality

The lack of housing is one of the main problems facing the country today, especially for young people, after unemployment, poverty, and the difficult access to basic public services. 

46 years after independence, the housing challenge has not only worsened, but has become increasingly evident. The need for specific policies directed at it, as it has been clearly revealed that the provision of shelter is one of the areas where a good part of the effort of saving and creativity of the lowest income families is concentrated. Proof of this is that reality shows that having one's own home today has only been a dream that accompanies many Mozambicans in many cases until adulthood, that is, there are many Mozambicans who reach the age of 40 to 45 without their own or a decent home.

Unsurprisingly, spending on housing continues to be the largest expense of Mozambican families, especially in urban centers. Data from the National Institute of Statistics show that 46 years ago housing came second only to food, but nowadays the scenario has changed.

João Felisberto, a young teacher at an elementary school, on the outskirts of the city of Matola, for eight years, has been trying for almost five years to build a house of his own and acceptable for his standard of living, yet his dream is still a mirage. Although she is living in her own house, the source says it has been a huge headache to divide her monthly salary for her basic expenses with those of construction.

"You have to play the game to be able to build", considers the source, and justifies: "the cost of living in the country is very high, and with the salary that Mozambicans earn there is not much margin to have an acceptable home".

If on the one hand it is difficult to own a home for those who work and have a fixed income, the bills are more complicated for those who do not have a formal job.

Aniceto Sitoe, a native of Gaza province, is an informal vendor in the capital of the country and lives in a rental house in Maxaquene, on the outskirts of the city. To Mznews, the 32-year-old reveals that for more than seven years he has longed to have his own house, however, due to financial conditions, he is slowly losing this hope.

 "Of the little I earn in my business, most of it has been spent on rent expenses, and what's left is only good for keeping the business going," Sitoe throws in.

In fact, the stories of João Felisberto and Aniceto Sitoe mirror the reality experienced by many young Mozambicans, who dream of one day owning their own home, but their dreams are gradually shrunk by the adversities they go through.

Egas Daniel, an economist, believes that access to housing in the country reflects a situation that must be rethought by the government. According to the economist, the country's housing policies, as well-meaning as they may be, many of them, with the exception of the last few, are out of step with the economic reality of the country's young people, taking into account the average income of Mozambicans (about 400 dollars per year).  

"The benefits required to benefit from these projects are 2 to 3 times the minimum wage, which obviously excludes almost all young people (even those already employed), imagine those who have no job and live on "odd jobs" with unstable incomes...", explains the economist.

In fact, access to land and financing are pointed out as the main obstacles faced by Mozambicans although young people are the most affected.

Wild do Rosário, head of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) considers that the policies for access to housing in Mozambique sin by being less expansive, although there is an effort by the Government.

"In general, construction costs in Mozambique are 30 to 40% higher when compared to other countries in the region. One of the main reasons associated with this is linked to construction material, for example, which is high because it is all imported," points out the head of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme.

The fight against poverty in the realm of unemployment

While housing entangles many young Mozambicans, especially in urban and suburban centers, poverty and unemployment almost afflict all ages, from the countryside to the cities.

Jorge Cossa, a young graduate in Philosophy from the Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM) is unequivocal proof of how difficult it is to find a job in the country. Graduated six years ago, the 31 year old young man revealed that he no longer has any hope of one day getting a job, because since he finished his studies, his routine has only been to submit his resume to various institutions, but so far he has never had a satisfactory response.

"In some cases I've even been called for an interview, but never got past that to work," Jorge Cossa revealed.

Data from INE indicates that poverty has increased in recent years, with many Mozambicans living on less than a dollar a day. The latest Household Budget Survey (IOF 2019/2020) also revealed that although poverty remains prevalent in many Mozambican households, the unemployment rate, has fallen from 20.7% in the 2014/15 report to 17.5% in 2019/20.

In this regard, the African Development Bank (AfDB) report on "Economic Outlook for Africa 2021," released in March of this year, revealed that last year alone, the country's economic recession pushed more than 850,000 people below the poverty line, increasing to 63.7% of the population.

In the view of economist Egas Daniel, the development models adopted by the government since the post-independence period, although partly functional, still sin for not being inclusive. "It is necessary to rethink an inclusive economic development model so that Mozambique can get out of this doldrums," argues Daniel, stressing that: "in the short term, social protection programs should be expanded, including food assistance, to support informal (autonomous) entrepreneurs. Specific interventions are also needed to support women and alleviate existing gender inequalities, including expanding access to finance and inputs, and harnessing the power of mobile technology."

"In the long term, the country needs to diversify its economy by moving away from the current megaproject-driven growth towards a more interconnected and competitive economy, because a more diversified and inclusive economy can mitigate the impact of these external shocks and allow more Mozambicans to benefit from economic growth," he notes.

Nevertheless, for Egas Daniel, these measures will be important to boost the main drivers of inclusion by increasing access to basic services, "such as education, health, sanitation, electricity, as well as access to labor markets and means of production, which in turn could improve social indicators."