Cabo Delgado: Empty houses still waiting for their owners in Mocímboa da Praia

 

There are so many vacant houses, even with the return of the population to Mocímboa da Praia, in northern Cabo Delgado.

The return of the population to Mocímboa da Praia, after years of instability and violence, has brought a mixture of relief and uncertainty.

Despite the gradual return of many residents, the town still bears deep scars. Among the most visible marks of this recent past are the vacant houses, scattered across different neighborhoods, some covered by tall grass, others with doors wide open from the passage of time.

These infrastructures are silent witnesses to what were perhaps interrupted lives.

Many of these houses were not simply abandoned temporarily; their owners never returned, whether out of fear, because they did not survive to return, or because they died as a result of the insurgency.

For those walking through the streets of Mocímboa, the scene is desolate. Streets that were once full of life are now marked by emptiness and uncertainty. João, one of the residents who returned a few months ago, describes the feeling of living among these abandoned structures.

“It’s strange. We return to our homes, try to resume our routine, but the silence of the empty houses reminds us of everything that happened. Some people left and never came back, others had no choice. At night, when the strong wind blows, it feels like the houses are speaking, as if telling their stories of those who once lived there,” he says, while watching his neighbor’s old house, now overtaken by the weeds.

Fear still dominates many hearts. Some prefer to remain in other towns and cities where they have restarted their lives, away from the constant threat of the attacks that plagued Mocímboa in recent years.

"I don’t have the courage to return," confesses Amélia, who settled in Pemba after fleeing with her family. "My children are now studying there, and there is still danger here. I can’t take the risk."

Like her, hundreds of families decided to rebuild their lives elsewhere, leaving behind not only their homes but also their memories and roots.

However, there are also those who simply had no choice—houses that remain empty because their owners lost their lives in the conflict. These homes, now forgotten, have become shelters for the weeds, snakes, and abandonment.

With no one to clean or care for them, nature has taken over. "Before, this house was full of people, always with children playing in front," recalls Fátima, pointing to a house with broken windows and a gate almost buried by the tall grass. "Today, I don’t even know who could return to live there."

The presence of these vacant houses is not just a reminder of the recent past of Mocímboa da Praia, but also an obstacle to the town’s full recovery. Abandonment attracts insecurity, hinders the restructuring of neighborhoods, and causes fear to remain a constant shadow for those trying to start over. (Armando António Kapemba)