Mozambique plans to start in 2027 works on more than 3,000kms of roads

O Mozambican government plans to start work on more than 3,000 kilometres of roads in the first quarter of 2027 under the ‘More Roads – 2031’ programme, estimated at around EUR 2.5 billion, was announced today.

The five-year programme of USD 2.8 billion (EUR 2.5 billion) aims to improve the transitability of the national road network and strengthen links between provinces, districts, production centres and main development corridors in the country, according to the Minister for Transport and Logistics, João Matlombe, who spoke 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, and the public contracts for the execution of the works have been launched", said the governor, adding that the evaluation of the proposals is ongoing before the award of the contracts.

Matlombe said that, having completed the evaluation and award procedures, the Government hopes to move forward with the mobilization for the start of work in the first three months of 2027, and interventions are planned at different points of the national territory.

The Minister argued, however, that the implementation of the programme requires changes in the management of the road network, with greater rigour in planning, setting priorities and using available financial, technical and human resources, in order to avoid interventions only when roads reach critical levels of degradation.

'We cannot continue to intervene on the roads only when the degradation reaches critical levels', he said, pointing to preventive conservation, quality of works, compliance with contractual deadlines and supervision as fundamental principles for improving the management of the road sector.

In the same context, the governor highlighted the restructuring of the National Road Administration (ANE) and the reorganization of the Road Fund, processes aimed at improving coordination between the institutions, clarifying responsibilities and increasing efficiency in the use of resources for the road network.

According to Matlombe, reforms should strengthen the capacity for planning, hiring, monitoring and monitoring projects, without compromising the continuity of ongoing works and programs, ensuring more efficient and transparent management, oriented to concrete results.

The Minister stressed that institutional changes should lead to effective improvements in road conditions, without creating obstacles to the implementation of investments, arguing that those responsible for the sector should ensure the implementation of priority projects.

On September 4, Lusa reported that the National Road Administration planned to select, in 2027, the future dealer of almost 200 kilometres of national roads N2, N3 and N4, in Maputo province, anticipating the transition of N4 management before the end of the current concession, in February 2028.

The process covers 96.8 kilometers of the N4, between Maputo and the border of Ressano Garcia, 69 kilometers of the N2, between Matola, Boane and Namaacha, and 31 kilometers of the N3, between Impaputo, Goba and the border with Essuatini.

On the same occasion, the institution indicated that it sought to mobilize private investment for the recovery of National Route Number One (N1), with about 2,600 kilometers, including critical sections and segments affected by the rains of the period 2025-2026.

The implementation of the ‘More Roads – 2031’ programme and institutional reforms should help to improve the movement of people and goods, facilitate the flow of national production and strengthen the competitiveness of the Mozambican economy through a road network capable of meeting the needs of territorial integration and development of the country.