The Mozambican Government plans to begin work on more than 3,000 kilometres of roads in the first quarter of 2027, as part of the ‘Mais Estradas – 2031’ programme, valued at around US$2.8 billion.
The five-year programme, announced on Wednesday, worth US$2.8 billion (€2.5 billion), aims to improve the condition of the national road network and strengthen links between provinces, regions, production centres and the country’s main development corridors, according to the Minister for Transport and Logistics, João Matlombe, who was speaking at the second session of the ministry’s Coordinating Council.
“It is important to highlight that this initiative is already at a concrete stage of implementation, with public tenders for the execution of the works having been launched,” said the minister, adding that the evaluation of bids is currently underway, prior to the award of contracts.
Matlombe said that, once the evaluation and award procedures have been completed, the Government hopes to proceed with preparations for work to begin in the first three months of 2027, with projects planned for various parts of the country.
The minister argued, however, that the programme’s implementation requires changes to the management of the road network, with greater rigour in planning, in setting priorities and in the use of available financial, technical and human resources, so as to avoid interventions only when roads reach critical levels of deterioration.
“We cannot continue to carry out road works only when deterioration reaches critical levels,” he stated, highlighting preventive maintenance, the quality of work, adherence to contractual deadlines and supervision as fundamental principles for improving the management of the road sector.
In the same context, he highlighted the restructuring of the National Roads Administration (ANE) and the reorganisation of the Roads Fund, processes aimed at improving coordination between institutions, clarifying responsibilities and increasing efficiency in the use of resources allocated to the road network.
According to Matlombe, the reforms should strengthen the capacity for planning, contracting, supervision and monitoring of projects, without compromising the continuity of ongoing works and programmes, thereby ensuring more efficient and transparent management, geared towards concrete results.
The minister emphasised that the institutional changes must translate into effective improvements in road conditions, without creating obstacles to the implementation of investments, arguing that those responsible for the sector must ensure that priority projects are carried out.
On 4 September, Lusa reported that the National Roads Administration (ANE) planned to select, in 2027, the future concessionaire for almost 200 kilometres of the N2, N3 and N4 national roads in Maputo province, anticipating the handover of management of the N4 before the current concession expires in February 2028.
The process covers 96.8 kilometres of the N4 between Maputo and the Ressano Garcia border, 69 kilometres of the N2 between Matola, Boane and Namaacha, and 31 kilometres of the N3 between Impaputo, Goba and the border with Eswatini.
On the same occasion, ANE indicated that it was seeking to mobilise private investment for the rehabilitation of National Road Number One (N1), which is approximately 2,600 kilometres long, including critical sections and stretches affected by the rains of the 2025–2026 season.
The implementation of the ‘More Roads – 2031’ programme and institutional reforms is expected to help improve the movement of people and goods, facilitate the distribution of domestic produce and strengthen the competitiveness of the Mozambican economy, through a road network capable of meeting the country’s needs for territorial integration and development.
Source: Lusa