Communities living along the multibillion kwacha railway line connecting Moatize and Nacala in Mozambique through Mwanza, Chikwawa, Neno, Blantyre rural and Balaka have welcomed the donation of nine vehicles to ease their mobility.
Mota Engil, a multidisciplinary investor and infrastructure development contractor, was engaged by Brazilian mining giant Vale Logistics to construct the railway line dubbed the Nacala Corridor Railway Project.
The project, valued at about $1 billion (K420 billion), is set to assist the miner move coal between Moatize in the western part of Mozambique to Nacala Port in the eastern side besides helping Malawian importers and exporters access the sea ports easily and cheaply.
Mota Engil moved in with the donation after meeting several community leaders who expressed concerns about hardships in mobility, especially ferrying pregnant women and children to hospitals.
“Nowadays, we no longer travel long distances on foot when pregnant women are due for labour,” said Maziko Kadyanji from Chikwawa.
The donation is part of Mota Engil Africa’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) project. The company recently announced a further $350 000 (about K140 million) package towards complimenting efforts in education, health and environmental conservation, among others.
Mota Engil Africa chief executive officer Gilberto Rodrigues said the company believes in empowering the communities they work in and minimise their plight.
At the height of medicine and medical equipment crisis that rocked the country two years ago, Mota Engil Africa made a donation of medical drugs worth K300 million through the Ministry of Health.
