Parque Nacional da Gorongosa Moçambique

Day of Great Joy for the Mueredze Community

Jul 1, 2011 - Muanza District

On July 1st, the Governor of Sofala province, Carvalho Muária, placed the first stone at the “Bairro Mueredze,” which is located 1.5 km from Muanza village.

The foundation stone was laid to commemorate the beginning of the construction of 72 new homes. Bairro Mueredze is a new community created for the benefit of 72 families from the Mueredze area. These families cross paths and come face to face with the wild animals living in Gorongosa National Park (GNP) every day. 

 

According to Mateus Mutemba, the GNP Administrator:

"After many years of negotiations between the Park and the community an agreement was signed by both parties last September. We are committed to work with this community in order to ensure they have a better life outside the Park, far away from the constant threat of wild animals. The Park is being restored with wildlife numbers expected to grow even more in the coming years. People in Mueredze now live each day threatened by elephants that destroy crops and are a menace to personal safety. We are also considering the future of the children. They should be able to grow and play in safe conditions, free from the dangers of lions, elephants and other wild animals. We are trying to create better living conditions here than the people have now living inside the Park…”

In his speech, the Governor of Sofala province said:

"We congratulate the Mueredze community for accepting the opportunity to withdraw from the area where you have always lived. Sometimes you asked why you should leave, but understood it was necessary to accept the new opportunity. We, as the Government through the Park, are creating these conditions, which are much better than the ones where you live now. Here you will have better housing; the children will live more comfortably and closer to the village as it expands in this direction. We will work to assure that this community will have the same conditions that the village has today. I believe that with your withdrawal from the Muaredze area the human-animal conflict will be solved. People and animals will no longer be competing for water from the same river or lagoon. So, let's leave the animals there and let's come here where we can create our own conditions... also because we need the park to thrive."

The day’s events were well attended and began with the traditional ceremony "Ntsembe,” lead by the Local Chief of Nhantandza. The ceremony was followed by a clarification of the land plots, the construction plans, and a brief visit to the plots. The governor of the province participated in the planting of the first fruit tree, and the symbolic delivery of a land usage and management title to the Local Chief of Mueredze. Finally, the Governor placed the first stone of the foundation for a new home.


Other people who also participated in the ceremony include the provincial Directors accompanying the Governor, members of the government of the District of Muanza, lead by the District Administrator, João Geral Patrício, Park staff, representatives of  Mueredze households, and several residents of Muanza village and its surrounding area. The day was a remarkable and unforgettable event and a new page in the history of the community and of Gorongosa National Park.


This event also meant, according to the Administrator of Gorongosa National Park, that the Muanza families are in a stronger position with more security in their land ownership. Families have received titles to the land stating their right to occupy 1.200 square meters for their housing. This would not be possible in the Park as it is a conservation area where land rights cannot be granted.


Singing and dancing were a constant during this event creating a positive emotional atmosphere and an attentive audience for the duration of the ceremony.