Supply by private companies: Committee looks for balanced solutions

A technical committee consisting of representatives from the Mozambican Government and private water supply associations came into office yesterday, February 8, 2010. The committee is mandated to find balanced solutions for the dispute between the parties, with regards to the granting of licenses for water supply to populations that are not yet served through the public water network in the cities of Maputo and Matola, southern Mozambique. The committee should present its proposals in April, 2010.

The private companies threatened to halt the supply of water in remote areas as from February 19, 2010, on the grounds of not having seen their interests granted by the government.

The associations of water suppliers are for the need of partnerships aimed at improving water supply, but believe that this should be done on the basis of non-discriminatory licensing and handled by an authorized institution.

Under the agreement signed between the Government, represented by Deputy National Director for Water, Suzana Saranga and the two associations of water suppliers, namely AFORAMO, represented by Paulino Cossa, and AMATI, by José Nhaca the recently formed technical committee should find solutions to the issues raised by April 2010, during which the private suppliers will suspend their decision of breaking the supply of water to peri-urban communities.

In a statement signed by the parties the State recognizes the role of small water providers in the community, and therefore is committed to protecting their interests as well as the population in general.

Read the full story in Portuguese here