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Report 5 of 5:
Where
There's No Road - Mozambique
Strap: Zambezia, Mozambique
COMM: In many developing countries a lack of transport and poor roads means people spend hours getting to market, school and hospitals.
In Mozambique the problem has been worsened by civil war. It not only wrecked lives but also destroyed much of Mozambique’s infrastructure – in particular the roads which were laced with landmines.
I/V: Last year the brigades started removing the mines from the roads, right here where I am there were mines but the brigades started removing them and that’s when we started living. (15)
TITLE: WHERE THERE’S NO ROAD
COMM: As large numbers of people return to the countryside safe roads are essential to improve peoples lives and invigorate a shattered local economy . Funded by the UK DFID the road project is rehabilitating 840 km of feeder roads
COMM: The work is done by local contractors who tender to the local authorities to rebuild particular stretches. Unemployment is around 80% and there are few ways other than subsistence farming to earn money. So road building is an important source of extra income.
COMM: Maria Isaura is site manager of one of the new roads and is responsible for each days work.
INTVW MARIA ISAURA: "I’m in charge of the work and that means I have to plan everything from all the activities for the next day, to all the data and writing annual reports and planning. I have120 casual workers of which 103 are men, 17 are women plus another 19 permanent workers"
COMM: Being labour based doesn’t make it less technical. The methods used depend on the kind of soil. Sometimes all that’s needed to make an existing road passable is spot improvement. In other cases there’s no need for gravel as the soil surface acts as a natural binder.
COMM: Effective drainage is the key to building a long lasting road. One technique is to use culverts in places where excess rainwater may threaten to flood and damage the road. The project aims to encourage women road builders. But its not easy.
Maria Isaura "Sometimes husbands forbid women to come and work here so the women are widows or single. Married women rarely come"
Question: Do women find it harder than men?
Maria : No, Because women have got the same qualities. Anyway women are used to working the land just like men and to collecting the wood from the forest just like men
COMM: Wages start at a rate of 1US dollar a day it may not seem much but it has allowed people to save a little money. Some have used it to start up their own business in the roadside markets.
INTVW ESTRELLA GONGALVES: I felt good because I was earning money. I worked for three months and I saved money. And then I went and bought goods to sell.
COMM: The rehabilitated roads help Estrella trade in different places.
INTVW Estrella: The roads have improved and that’s good and for now we are quite happy because we can travel from Malawi to Kilimane and Macuba.
COMM: But while the road has made it easier to transport goods to market and get children to school the numbers of people travelling between town and country has also grown. And so has the spread of infectious diseases like HIV.
COMM: Anxious to educate migrant workers about the health risks an outreach programme educates them about safe sex. When asked they are candid about their exploits.
Comm: Mahomare believes that peoples behaviour has changed
INTVW MOMARE ? People are now buying condoms and if they are buying it means they are unlikely to be wasting their money unless they are going to use them.
COMM: If the road has meant increased levels of HIV infection it also means more people can get treatment from small clinics. Nurses like Floriana Santiella have reported that roads and greater awareness have led to a decrease in sexually transmitted diseases.
I/V FLORIANA SENTINELA: I think the situation has stabilised because thanks to transportation and the road being in good condition we’ve been able to talk to people in the locality and the incidence of stds is becoming less frequent and less serious.
For further information, please contact:
Mr Carlos Fragoso
Ministry of Public Works and Housing
Administracao Nacional de Estradas (ANE)
Maputo
Mozambique
Tel: +258 1 475157
Fax: +258 1 475533
E-mail: Pcaane@Teledata.Mz |
Abdelmoula Ghzala
The World Bank
1818 H Street, NW
Washington D.C. 20433
USA
Tel: +1 202 473 4450
Fax: + 1 202 473 8326
Website: http://www.worldbank.org/ |
ITDG would like to acknowledge the UK's Department for International Development (DFID) for providing the funding for the roads project in Mozambique.
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