Mozambican aluminium smelter Mozal will invest 71.6 million meticais, or about R20 348 760, in logistical infrastructure development projects adjacent to the N4 through the suburb of Matola to the Port of Maputo.
The project will entail the construction of two bridges that Mozal has said will benefit the communities of the Juba and Jonasse neighbourhoods west of the Matola River and will improve transport to Parque Industrial de Beluluane, a business development node in the area.
According to Mozal CEO Samuel Samo Gudo, the project will contribute to community development in Maputo province.
The two bridges are set to be built along the road linking Beluluane to the Chinonanquila neighbourhood south of the N2.
Mozal, which produces about 580 000 tonnes of aluminium annually and is one of Mozambique’s largest industrial contributors to the country’s GDP, is fully financing the 71.6m meticais initiative.
Once the bridges are completed, the new road infrastructure is expected to directly benefit approximately 71 000 residents of Jonasse and Juba within the Vila da Matola-Rio municipality.
Samo Gudo highlighted that the construction of these bridges would significantly enhance road connectivity for local communities, particularly during the rainy season.
Furthermore, the project is anticipated to stimulate economic growth in the region and alleviate congestion along the Mozal road, thereby improving traffic flow.
Abdul Gafur, the mayor of Matola-Rio, emphasised the importance of the initiative in fostering connectivity between families in the Chinonanquila, Juba, Jonasse and Beluluane neighbourhoods, as well as surrounding areas.
He said the investment would not only enhance residents’ quality of life but also spur the town’s development. The mayor reaffirmed the municipality’s commitment to ensuring improved living conditions and safety for all its inhabitants.
Gafur also recalled the significant difficulties communities faced during the rainy season, when transportation becomes severely disrupted, leaving many residents isolated and unable to carry out their daily activities.
He said the Matola-Rio municipality had forged a strategic partnership with Mozal to construct the two bridges over the KM16-Beleluane road, aiming to provide a lasting solution to these mobility issues.
This initiative forms part of Mozal’s broader corporate social responsibility strategy, which seeks to address infrastructural deficits affecting local communities
