Mobilizing for a New Life: “Canico” Settlement Rehabilitation in the Bairro of Maxaquene,Mozambique*

Located on the east coast of Africa, Mozambique won its independence from Portugal in 1975 following a protracted 10-year guerilla war led by FRELIMO—the Front for the Liberation of Mozambique. The experience of collective participation which was necessary for rural peasants to win the war against a much better equipped Portuguese army is now being carried over to all aspects of life including the rehabilitation of the shanty settlements which surround the larger cities and towns. In 1977 the newly created National Housing Directorate launched the first rehabilitation pilot project in part of the bairro of Maxaquene, in the capital, Maputo. After two years of intensive work, the original project area has quadrupled in size and an urban plan has been put in place encompassing 300 hectares and a population of 36,000. New water and electricity projects already serve 10,000 people. Infrastructure works and community facilities are being completed as rapidly as limited material and technical resources permit, and a self-help housing assistance program is underway. The rapid progress has only been possible because of the community's extraordinary efforts in putting into practice the philosophy of “counting on our own forces”. Hundreds of meetings of planning committees have been held and over 100 new block committees are active in the bairro. The people of Maxaquene are mobilized for a new life and they are succeeding in creating it.