Mocímboa da Praia, located
in the northern part of Cabo Delgado province in north of Mozambique, embodies
a duality that both intrigues and saddens: plastic waste and other refuse have overtaken
the entire shoreline.
As one walks along its
edges, the scene is dominated by trash bins, broken bottles, and an environment
that no longer feels welcoming.
The sense of freshness and
tranquility is now mixed with the strong odor of accumulated waste. Amid all
this, fishermen and vendors persist, using the beach as an improvised market, essential
to the local economy.
Residents of the area
express frustration. Maria, a vendor who has been selling fish on the beach for
over ten years, nostalgically recalls how Mocímboa used to be clean and vibrant
during her childhood.
“We used to come here to
hang out, the kids would run on the sand, and it was all so beautiful. Today,
no one comes here for fun anymore. We’re only here because we need to make a
living,” she said, trying to shoo away flies that keep landing on her fish.
According to her, the
problem is not just the visible dirt, but also the sense that the beach has
been abandoned. The lack of proper sanitation has turned the area into a place
where many go just to relieve themselves, worsening the unsanitary conditions
and eliminating any possibility of tourism or recreation.
“Sometimes I see pictures of
beaches elsewhere, and it’s heartbreaking. It feels like we’ve been forgotten.
We can't even play soccer here anymore because the ground is full of glass and
trash,” said another local resident.
They added, “The beach that
should be a symbol of our identity, but today, it isn’t.”
However, the residents
question whether the issue is due to a lack of effective public policies,
insufficient personnel to clean, or even a lack of environmental awareness
campaigns? (Armando António)
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you want to write or report an event in your rural area, please send a text to
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