Maputo — The Mozambican Public Works Ministry and the South African company Roudabout Water Solutions on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding in Maputo for the installation of 400 pumps in the same number of Mozambican schools.

The agreement was signed by Public Works Minister Felicio Zacarias, and Paul Restic of the management of the South African company.

The pumps are known as playpumps, and take the form of a playground roundabout. When the children play on the roundabout, its motion pumps the water. Each playpump is able to pump 1,400 litres of water an hour.

Zacarias explained that the memorandum follows a successful pilot phase in which 60 playpumps were installed in schools in Maputo and Gaza provinces, benefiting about 40,000 pupils and the surrounding communities. Each pump costs around 15,000 US dollars. Several other African countries are also using this technology.

The South African company will be in charge of the pumps for 10 years, and during this period local companies will be hired and trained in how to maintain the pumps.

The pumps will now be assembled in first level primary schools (teaching first to fifth grades) across the country. They will benefit around a quarter of a million pupils, as well as the communities surrounding the schools, improving access to safe drinking water and sanitation.