Africa-Press – Mozambique. The province of Zambézia presents a worrying socioeconomic picture, with 70% of its more than six million inhabitants experiencing high degrees of poverty.
The most critical indicators are access to drinking water, education, housing and basic sanitation, both in urban and rural areas, according to the results of the 2019/2020 Family Budget Survey (IOF) presented this Tuesday in the city of Quelimane.
The data indicate that 60% of the population in Zambézia province does not have access to basic sanitation and, as a result, resorts to open urination and defecation, constituting a public health hazard.
Many families also face serious difficulties in accessing quality water, despite investments by the government and partners, said National Institute of Statistics (INE) delegate in Zambézia, Cristóvão Muai.
In this survey, the INE worked with 1,623 households, and the results show that there are many areas that deserve a lot of attention in terms of the formulation of redistributive policies.
For many families, housing is very precarious, and they are exposed to weather phenomena which exacerbate their state of vulnerability.
With regard to the financial aspect, the INE speaks of progress but nevertheless indicates that financial income per family in Zambezia remains extremely low compared to the national average.
For example, Cristóvão Muaia notes that per-capita family income rose [since the 2014 survey] from 800 meticais to 5,000 meticais a year [2019/2020 survey], but is still far from the national average of 8,000 meticais a year.
Statistical authorities suggest more public and partner investments to reverse the situation, improving the chances of a better life.
The INE says it is already preparing a new household budget survey, with the training of surveyors starting this November and field work scheduled for January, 2022.
By
Joaquim Sitefane
For More News And Analysis About Mozambique Follow Africa-Press
