Flood-ravaged Chamanculo cries for help

It rains, and chaos ensues. This is the scenario experienced by residents of the Chamaculo neighborhood in Maputo whenever heavy rain falls. The epicenter of the problem is located on Avenida Marcelino dos Santos, where drainage ditches, clogged for years, can no longer handle the volume of rainwater, causing severe flooding and disruption to the local population.

The ditches, clogged with trash, debris, and accumulated sediment, no longer fulfill their essential function: draining rainwater. The result is flooded streets, flooded homes, destroyed furniture, material losses, and entire families unable to leave their homes. "We live in fear every time the sky darkens. The rain has become a nightmare," laments Ana Luís, a resident of the area for over 10 years.

The approaching rainy season heightens the community's fears, which fear facing another season marked by loss and suffering. Residents are calling for immediate intervention from the City Council, warning that the authorities' silence only worsens the situation and puts lives at risk.

Until structural solutions are found, Chamaculo residents will continue to face, year after year, the consequences of a collapsed drainage system, which leaves the population at the mercy of rain and neglect.

Residents say they have made numerous complaints to municipal authorities, but have received no effective response. "We are abandoned. The ditches are neither cleaned nor rehabilitated, and no one listens to us. When it rains, we can't leave our homes, the children miss school, and there's a risk of illness," laments Carlos, another affected resident.

The problem isn't limited to residential areas. During days of heavy rain, traffic on Avenida Marcelino dos Santos becomes nearly impossible. Low-slung vehicles become submerged, and public transportation is prevented from operating in the area, further exacerbating residents' mobility difficulties.

For residents, the solution involves urgently restructuring the area's drainage system. "The current infrastructure is completely outdated. We need a new ditch or a modern system that can handle the amount of water that accumulates here," pleads a resident who preferred to remain anonymous.