Energy in Mozambique: electric car factory, national development, or elite arrogance?

Paulo Vilanculo"

Following the use of tractors with trailers for public passenger transport, a measure implemented by the Government that has been the target of strong opposition, with the population and civil society considering the alternative a "fiasco" and a regression, given that these vehicles do not have the comfort or safety standards required, the Mozambican Government's announcement of an international public tender to select a private partner for the establishment of a car assembly plant in the country for vehicles compatible with the country's energy transition, particularly buses and cars powered by gas and electricity, reignites the debate about the State's priorities in a context marked by profound economic and social difficulties.Does automobile production address the priorities of a country where thousands of families struggle daily for access to food, education, healthcare, and energy? Does it make sense to talk about electric vehicles when countless families still rely on oil lamps, firewood, and charcoal to meet basic needs? Should a nation still struggling to provide basic necessities for its citizens place automobile production among its immediate priorities, or should it first ensure that development reaches the homes, schools, hospitals, and communities that continue to await concrete solutions?How will this project contribute to improving the lives of the majority of Mozambicans?Ultimately, who will these electric cars be produced for, when a large part of the Mozambican population lives in areas without regular electricity and lacks the financial means to even purchase conventional vehicles?

At first glance, this is an initiative aligned with global trends in sustainable mobility and reducing carbon emissions.On the one hand, the country seeks to align itself with global trends in sustainable mobility and energy transition; on the other hand, millions of Mozambicans continue to lack regular access to electricity, especially in rural areas.Although the project is presented as a bet on industrialization, na vision of progress and technological development,Regarding job creation and the energy transition, many Mozambicans question whether this initiative effectively addresses the most urgent needs of the population.In Mozambique, symbols of economic growth coexist with the inability of many Mozambicans to meet basic needs. The investment in the production of electric cars in Mozambique exposes one of the greatest contradictions of the current national development model.The reality in Mozambique presents contradictions that cannot be ignored.Mozambique faces a paradox that defies the logic of inclusive development: while the country asserts itself as an emerging power in the production and export of natural gas, a large part of the population continues to lack access to energy, decent employment, and quality basic services. The gas extracted from Mozambique's subsoil promises billions in revenue, but its benefits remain largely invisible to those who daily face the rising cost of living, precarious infrastructure, and lack of opportunities. The real challenge lies not only in transforming natural resources into wealth, but in ensuring that this wealth translates into human development, poverty reduction, and a real improvement in collective well-being. Otherwise, the country risks accumulating megaprojects, factories, and economic growth statistics, while the people patiently wait for promises of prosperity that never arrive.

In a country where millions of citizens still face difficulties accessing drinking water, electricity, health, education, sanitation, and employment, investing in the automotive industry seems to emerge as an ambition for modernity that contrasts sharply with the most basic needs of the population.In a context where a large part of the Mozambican population continues to face difficulties in meeting basic needs, the announcement of a car factory risks symbolizing an economic growth model that prioritizes large projects without ensuring proportional benefits for the majority of society.Domestic electrification and expanding access to energy should be priority steps before promoting technologies that depend on a robust electrical infrastructure.Since independence in 1975, successive governments have proclaimed the fight against absolute poverty as one of the main banners of governance. However, decades later, social indicators continue to reveal a worrying reality. Youth unemployment is growing, the cost of living is increasing, food insecurity affects thousands of families, and public services face structural difficulties. Recent history also recommends caution. The country has already experienced similar initiatives. In 2014, Matchedje Motor, the result of a partnership between Mozambican and Chinese capital, was presented as a milestone in national industrialization. The company even produced vehicles and introduced models to the market. However, a few years later, operations were suspended due to insufficient demand and financial difficulties. Experience has shown that the mere existence of a factory does not guarantee the sustainability of the business when the population's purchasing power is low and the domestic market is limited.

The true energy transition doesn't begin on the roads with electric cars, but rather in homes, schools, hospitals, and small businesses that are still waiting for access to the energy that will allow them to live and produce with dignity.The true wealth of a nation lies not only in what it produces for the market, but in what it provides for its people.Sustainable development requires strategic investments.whatThey must go hand in hand with improving people's living conditions. Without a strategy that places the well-being of the population at the center of public policies, the project may be seen not as an engine of inclusive development, but as just another grandiose dream far removed from the reality of most Mozambicans.Therefore, more important than asking how many cars Mozambique will be able to assemble is questioning how many opportunities, how many sustainable jobs, and how much dignity it will generate for the millions of citizens who continue to wait for the resources and promises of development to translate into concrete improvements in their living conditions. This is not about rejecting industrialization or denying the importance of attracting investment to the country. Economic development requires productive diversification, technological innovation, and strengthening national industrial capacity, yes. However, the real debate lies in defining priorities. A car factory may represent progress, but it will hardly solve the problems of a citizen who lacks access to electricity, drinking water, stable employment, or quality basic services. The new car factory risks being perceived as just another symbol of modernity disconnected from the daily difficulties of the population.Although industrialization is essential for economic growth, it loses some of its legitimacy when basic needs remain unmet for a large majority of citizens.Ultimately, development is not measured solely by the number of vehicles produced, but above all by the ability to positively transform people's lives.

2025/12/3