12 million dollars for bridge repairs in Zambezia

The governments of Mozambique and Japan on Wednesday signed an agreement in Maputo paving the way for a donation of 12 million US dollars to pay for the rehabilitation of thirteen bridges in the central province of Zambezia and the northern province of Niassa.The agreement was signed by Deputy Foreign Minister Nyeleti Mondlane and Japanese ambassador Akira Mizutani.The Japanese ambassador explained that the funds are to be used to repair or replace bridges damaged by severe flooding in January 2015. Ambassador Mizutani added that this is part of his country’s continued financial support to Mozambique.Originally, these bridges had been built along the road corridor linking Zambezia with Niassa using a 38 million dollar donation from the Japanese government under an agreement signed in 2013. However, damage to the bridges caused by heavy rains in Zambezia in 2015 has led to the extra 12 million dollars being made available.Nyeleti Mondlane said that this additional support will give a boost to the pace of renovation of the bridges, which lie along the road linking the districts of Ile in Zambezia and Cuamba in Niassa.Mondlane added, “the financing of the road improvements will lead to the better circulation of people and goods in our country, especially in the Nacala corridor. It links with other projects in Mozambique that Japan has supported”.