The administrative post of Katapua is located in the
eastern part of Chiúre district in Cabo Delgado province, and borders Namuno
district I northern Mozambique region.
The seat of the Katapua post consists of nine
neighborhoods, with a total of 6,377 inhabitants, distributed among Cariaco,
Muanona, Laminane, Nantota, Mecolene, Milapane, Cimento, and the Resettlement
Center, where most of the inhabitants are displaced by terrorism from the
northern part of the province.
The economy of the population in this area is based on
small-scale subsistence agriculture, characterized by fertile land, as well as
the trade of various small goods, which many residents come to the district
seat to purchase.
This administrative post still does not have electricity
from the Cahora Bassa power grid, but in 2019, the National Energy Fund (FUNAE)
installed solar panels in some homes and stalls. According to people who spoke
to "Mozanorte," these panels cover less than 10% of the population in
the post seat.
Faque Amisse Hukula, who lives with his wife and is the
father of three children, and resides in the seat of Katapua, shared his views
on the energy situation in the administrative post.
"Here, we only have solar panels, but they are not
enough for everyone. I think less than 10% of the population of the seat has
access to these panels. And those that work don't reach 5%, because all the
accumulators are broken and the installation team does not maintain them, even
though a monthly fee was charged. Two companies were providing energy through
solar panels. One was FUNAE, and the other I don’t remember the name, but I
will find out. FUNAE charged 300 meticais per month for houses with only one
panel, an accumulator, and lamps, and for clients with panels and freezers, the
charge was 600 meticais a month."
He went on, saying that despite the charges, the project
failed. "There was no set deadline for the solar panel payments. They just
came and started installing them. They did an assessment of the clients and
those who did not pay regularly had their panels removed and given to others.
When the second project was implemented, the panels no longer worked and no
further payments were required. The collectors were not from Katapua; they came
from Nampula, and if they could not come, they appointed a trustworthy local person
to collect the payments."
Mr. Faque Amisse Hukula recalled the positive impacts
solar panels had on improving the quality of life for the people in the seat of
Katapua.
"Those who were using solar panels, for example,
those with freezers, made Maheu, ice pops, and sold soft drinks and beverages.
The population benefited because there was public street lighting. Now, with
the panels broken, no one speaks of Katapua having energy, because the street
lights no longer work."
Our source hopes that hydroelectric energy from Cahora
Bassa will reach the region. "If we had electricity from the Cahora Bassa
grid, it would reach a larger portion of the population because many people
want energy in their homes. Energy is key to development in an area. For
example, solar panels were brought, and many people wanted them, but there were
not enough available. However, with Cahora Bassa, everyone who wants it will
have access in their homes. With Cahora Bassa, each person can use electricity
according to their ability to pay, based on what they can afford."
He insisted: "I’m giving this example because, in
the past, people didn’t pay for water, but now they prefer to pay for water
because it’s delivered daily. Similarly, if we have electricity, no one will
accept going three days without power in their homes. Everyone will try to
gather at least 50 meticais to buy electricity credit, and people will get used
to saving to pay for energy. Because even in the district city, people were
initially unsure how to pay for energy, but now they are accustomed to it, and
no one accepts staying in the dark when there is energy available. Just as
people live in other places, we too want to live this way."
Until that happens, the interviewee observes: "If it
is a solar panel company, it shouldn’t be like the model used here in Katapua,
where the panels were placed on top of homes and you depended on that panel.
But, for example, in other places, if the panels were installed at a central
location and then distributed to homes, when something breaks, the company
owners would be responsible for the repairs. And the population would be
willing to extend the energy to their homes." (Celestino Carlos)
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