Maputo, June 4, 2025 (Lusa) - The Mozambican National Directorate of State Heritage has suspended the contracting of four public works projects worth more than 3.204 billion meticais (€44 million) to assess the legality of the procedures, the Ministry of Finance announced on Wednesday.
In a statement, the ministry, under the regulations on the Contracting of Public Works, Supply of Goods and Provision of Services to the State, explained that the decision aims to "allow supervision work to be carried out to assess compliance with the contracting procedures established" in the law.
One of the suspended works, awarded to the company Chico for more than 2.311 billion meticais (€31.7 million), involves the rehabilitation and maintenance of National Road 301 in the province of Tete, on a 50-kilometre stretch. Another, awarded to Moza Construções for 563.3 million meticais (€7.7 million), concerns emergency repairs to the bridge over the Monapo River on National Road 1 in the province of Nampula.
Also suspended is the award, for 217.4 million meticais (€3 million), to EREPTZ Construções, for periodic maintenance work on National Road 14, on the 110-kilometre stretch between Metoro and Montepuez, in Cabo Delgado province.
The fourth suspended contract involves two road rehabilitation projects, awarded to Julien Construções for 104.9 million meticais (€1.5 million) and to Airtech for 6.9 million meticais (€95,000).
"The suspension of the award in question is intended to allow for the evaluation of the processes and the opinion of the supervisory team of the Functional Unit for the Supervision of Procurement (UFSA)," the statement said.
Mozambique's government on Tuesday approved the creation of a new public institute, called the National Public Works Administration (ANOP), which will be responsible for managing and supervising this sector.
The decision was taken during a cabinet meeting, according to a statement from that body, which refers to the approval of the decree creating ANOP as "an entity that ensures the implementation of public policies".
In the "field of public works," the new institute will have the "mission of planning, coordinating, executing, and supervising the construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of public infrastructure."
This mission includes, in particular, interventions involving "educational establishments, health facilities, and other public buildings throughout the national territory," according to the government.
PVJ/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
