Mozambique will prioritize strengthening access to water in the north, through the installation of new water supply systems and boreholes, to increase the availability of potable water in rural areas, announced today by the Minister of Public Works.
“The concern about water coverage is national, but we have observed that the northern region has presented the greatest supply challenges, especially between September and December,” said today the Minister of Public Works, Housing and Water Resources, Fernando Rafael, on the sidelines of the opening of the National Meeting for Institutional Alignment on the New Framework for the Water Supply and Sanitation Sector, in Maputo.
At the meeting, promoted by the Water and Sanitation Regulatory Authority (AURA) to discuss reforms underway in the sector, the official reiterated the need to concentrate efforts in that region, a priority also foreseen in ProÁguas, the National Water Security Compact 2026-2036.
“This ProÁguas strategy also aims to prioritize these regions, where we will create conditions to have more water supply systems, more boreholes and more means, such as manual pumps, so that the rural population can benefit from more potable water for consumption,” he added.
The meeting allowed the reforms underway to be framed and positions harmonized regarding the exercise of institutional mandates, from the central level to the decentralized levels, with a view to defining practical actions to strengthen the capacity of provincial governments to coordinate and monitor service delivery.
Fernando Rafael also challenged sector institutions to strengthen coordination in water resources management and information sharing.
“In the domain of assets, we must ensure clarity for all in the transfer of systems, providing information about the assets, existing contracts, liabilities, rehabilitation needs, and transitional responsibilities,” he stated.
According to the minister, the circulation of information between institutions must follow clear rules of responsibility, frequency and identification of recipients.
The official also urged the Water and Sanitation Regulatory Authority to exercise its functions with “independence and rigor,” underscoring that strong regulation is essential to guarantee service quality standards, transparency and consumer protection.
The Water Supply Investment and Asset Fund (FIPAG) is responsible for ensuring the sustainability of investments, while Águas de Moçambique (AdeM) must ensure clear and responsible asset management, he added.
Fernando Rafael also argued that governments, directorates and provincial companies must act in a coordinated manner, despite their distinct competences, to ensure the efficient operation of the system.
In July, the minister announced that Mozambique plans to establish 876,335 new household connections to potable water by 2036 and to construct more than 25,000 public supply points, as part of expanding the national water access coverage.
The Government also has an ongoing strategy to reinforce water supply and to improve the quality of services provided by Águas de Moçambique.
In May, Mozambican President Daniel Chapo announced the mobilization of nearly €3.95 billion by 2036 for investments in water and sanitation under ProÁguas.
The program aims to raise the national water supply coverage to 75% of the population by 2036, including 65% in rural areas and 92% in urban areas, in addition to the construction of dams, sanitation infrastructures and thousands of new household connections across the country.
