Cabo Delgado: Community consultation in Salaué for cement factory installation

 

It is Dugongo Cement that takes the stage, but the focus is on development conditions and opportunities, as well as political and implementation risks.

What we know is that on Tuesday, February 7th, the locality of Salaué, located in the Metoro Administrative Post, in the Ancuabe District of Cabo Delgado, northern Mozambique, hosted a community consultation that brought together local community members, religious leaders, influential social figures, government representatives, and Dugongo company officials.

The main purpose of the meeting was to discuss the proposal for the installation of a cement factory in the region, presented by the company.

During the meeting, the population of Salaué expressed their support for the initiative, but with clear conditions to ensure the project's success.

One of the key points raised by community leaders was the need to ensure that the project does not become just another promise without concrete results.

At the same time, another important issue discussed was the creation of employment opportunities for the region’s youth.

Additionally, the residents requested that the company commit to concrete social actions, such as the construction of wells, schools, health centers, and improvements to local infrastructure, including access roads.

Transparency in the recruitment process was also a central concern.

 While the community expressed a collaborative stance, the local government, represented by the Administrator of Ancuabe, Belmiro Casimiro, emphasized the need for Dugongo to implement tangible development actions and ensure that the project benefits the region sustainably.

However, a crucial point that cannot be overlooked is the potential risk of political interference in this process.

The presence of government representatives and the clear indication that the community should cooperate with the project raises questions about the transparency and impartiality of the process.

Government participation, in some cases, can lead to the politicization of the project, which could compromise its fair execution and the real benefits for the local population.

Therefore, civil society vigilance and oversight become even more essential to ensure that the project delivers the promised benefits, without falling into political interest traps.

The community consultation, therefore, reflects not only the desire of the Salaué population for development but also the need for continuous supervision to ensure that the Dugongo cement factory is implemented in a transparent, fair, and community-centered manner. (Mozanorte)