2 July 2009
Maputo — Mozambique's Minister of Public Works, Felicio Zacarias, has confirmed that the new bridge over the Zambezi river, linking the provinces of Sofala and Zambezia, will be named the "Armando Emilio Guebuza Bridge", in honour of the country's current President.
Cited in Thursday's issue of the independent daily "O Pais", Zacarias said that other names had been suggested, including "National Unity Bridge"', "Eduardo Mondlane Bridge" (in honour of the founder and first President of the national liberation movement, Frelimo), but the government eventually decided to name it after the current President.
Zacarias explained that in deciding on the name, the government took into account Guebuza's commitment, during his current term of office, to building this bridge, and other bridges and roads throughout the country. The only other road bridge over the Zambezi, in Tete city, is named after Mozambique's first president, Samora Machel.
Zacarias said that the inauguration of the new bridge was initially scheduled for 10 July, but has been postponed to 1 August, to allow time for better preparations of the ceremony.
The bridge links Caia in Sofala to Chimuara in Zambezia, and is a key link in the country's main north-south highway. It replaces an unreliable ferry service.
Building the bridge cost 80 million Euros (112 million US dollars). The money was contributed by the European Commission, Italy, Sweden, and the Mozambican state budget itself.
The building of the bridge, by a consortium formed by the Portuguese companies Mota-Engil and Soares da Costa, began on 13 March 2006. The bridge is 4,900 metres long, of which 2,370 metres are over the river.
Motorists will be obliged to pay to use this bridge. A toll gate is being installed, and it is expected to be ready by the end of this week.
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