2005 - 2006 - Pinsent Masons Water Yearbook 2012

MOZAMBIQUE PART 2: COUNTRY ANALYSIS
Mozambique
Economics (2003)
GDP per capita US$210
GDP per capita (PPP) US$1,060
GDP in Agriculture 26%
GDP in Industry 31%
GDP in Services 43%
The National Water Plan
Mozambique unveiled a National Water Development Plan in 1995. The Plan is based on reviving
Mozambique’s water provision infrastructure in the wake of the country’s civil war – access to
improved water supplies having decreased from 48% in 1980 to 35% by 1995. The Plan states: to
permit services to be financially viable, the price of water has to reflect its economic value, eventually
covering the cost of supply; water resources management will be decentralised to autonomous
catchment authorities and water supply and sanitation services are to be decentralised to
autonomous and financially self-sufficient local agencies. The Government’s role will therefore be
restricted to setting priorities, defining minimum service levels, and the regulation of the activities of
the service providers, including overseeing any planned privatisation processes.
Population
2003 (million) 18.8
2015 (million) 22.7
Urbanisation in 2003 36%
Urbanisation by 2015 46%
In urban agglomerations, 2015 20%
The role of the state
The Water Law of 1991 defines the institutional and legal framework for licensing and allocation of
water concessions. Under this law, the National Water Council (CAN) provides inter-sector coordination
and strategic decision making. Infrastructure development for the extension of coverage
service and the corresponding investments will remain the responsibility of the state for the
foreseeable future. On the other hand, management or operation of the water supply systems will, in
principle, be carried out in a financially viable way and will be independent of the civil service.
Urban Data
Served by piped water 17%
Access to sewerage 15%
With sewage treatment 0%
Urban water and sanitation
According to the Public Works and Housing Ministry in 2003, Mozambique needs more than US$1
billion to meet the millennium target of reducing by half the people deprived of clean drinking water
and basic sanitation by 2015.
The National Statistics Institute found in 2001 that 37% of the population has access to piped water or
a protected well and 50% had access to basic sanitation facilities. Of the total urban population, 35%
have access to safe water supplies. In 1980, the coverage was estimated to be about 48%. The
1995 Plan’s objective was to increase the coverage so that 50-80% of the population is supplied with
safe drinking water by 2002. In 1999, 81% of the urban population had access to safe drinking water
and 68% to improved sanitation. All water companies had a target to supply at least 50% of the
population by then. The target for Maputo, the capital city, is 60%, and higher targets have been set
for Xai and Chokwe (70%), Inhambane (75%), Pemba and Tete (80%). If these targets are achieved
an extra 1 million people will be served. Most of the expansion will be in the peripheral areas, where
the proposed quality of service is one standpost with two taps per 500 people. The target coverage
for the various levels of service is 30% by standpipes, 25% with yard connections and 20% with
house connections. To achieve these targets water losses will have to be reduced from about 40% to
less than 25%.
144 Pinsent Masons Water Yearbook 2005 – 2006