Guebuza Inaugurates Bridge in Memba

3 June 2011

Maputo — Mozambican President Armando Guebuza on Friday inaugurated a bridge over the Muculumba river, linking the administrative posts of Mazua and Chipene, in Memba district, in the northern province of Nampula.

The original bridge over the Muculumba was destroyed by the apartheid-backed Renamo rebels during the war of destabilisation. The new bridge cost the Mozambican state 51 million meticais (about 1.7 million US dollars).

It is 138 metres long and 6.5 metres wide. Construction began in January 2009 and ended in September 2010. It will facilitate the circulation of people and goods from Chipene, regarded as the granary of Memba, to other parts of the province. Built by the engineering company Opway, the bridge also shortens the distance between Chipene and the neighbouring province of Cabo Delgado.

“Today we are celebrating, because we didn’t have a bridge here, but now it’s been built, and it’s a safer bridge than the previous one”, said Guebuza. “It’s common property, it belongs to all of us, and it’s good for all of us. We have the responsibility to take care of it”.

Bridges are like schools or hospitals, he added – they are facilities that everyone needs. “It’s ours, it belongs to each of us”, he stressed. “We have to preserve it, so that it lasts as long as possible”.

The Muculumba river rises in the Nampula interior, and flows to the Indian Ocean. It is not a permanent river, and only fills during the rainy season. In the 20 years since Renamo burnt down the original wooden bridge local people have had to walk across the river bed during the dry season, or use canoes to reach the other side during the rainy season.

At a rally held in Chipene, Guebuza explained that his tours of the country, known as the “open and inclusive presidency” have allowed the country’s leadership and the people to come closer together.

He said the leadership recognises that it does not know everything, and that in its governance it should respect the people as a source of knowledge. Leaders should be close to the people, so that together than can remove any obstacles that might arise on the path to development.

“During the Open and Inclusive Presidency, the people transmit their lessons and advise the leaders about how to obtain what they need. These are experiences about how to do away with poverty – which is the dream of Mozambicans”, said Guebuza.

On his latest tour, he continued, he had noted that great achievements have been made – but this is not yet the time to rest. Nonetheless, he was certain that poverty is on the retreat.

“We are producing not only for our own sustenance, but are marketing the surplus to help those who do not have food”, he said. “Chipene is on the right path, and needs to continue working in all fields, convinced that we are going to win”.

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