Six years after Cyclone Idai tore through central Mozambique, leaving a trail of destruction and despair, hundreds of families in Sofala province are finally moving into new homes.
On Wednesday, the Buddhist-inspired Tzu Chi Foundation handed over 840 houses in Búzi district, part of an ambitious reconstruction project valued at US$33 million. The homes are located in Guara-Guara, a resettlement site built to provide safety and stability for families displaced by the storm that devastated Sofala in 2019.
For many survivors, the moment marks a turning point. “Every rainy season we feared the floods,” said one resident, recalling the years spent in makeshift shelters. “Now we feel we have a place to live with dignity.”
The project is far from over. Of the 2,067 houses planned for Guara-Guara, 1,611 have already been delivered. By 2026, the foundation expects to have built more than 3,000 homes across the province. The entire support package, worth US$108 million, is fully funded by Tzu Chi, which has been active in Mozambique since 2012, often stepping in during moments of crisis.
Mozambican President Daniel Chapo attended the ceremony, describing the initiative as more than just housing. “Here in Guara-Guara we are building not only homes, but a future city,” he said. Plans include a community centre, schools, and playgrounds for children.
Chapo also used the occasion to urge communities to leave flood-prone areas, reminding them of the risks they face every year during the rainy season. “People should not have to climb onto rooftops or trees to escape rising waters,” he said. “That cannot happen again in Búzi.”
The settlement at Guara-Guara was chosen because it lies on higher ground, safe from recurring floods that have long haunted Sofala. For families who lost everything in 2019, the location offers more than just shelter – it offers hope.
The 2018/2019 rainy season was one of the deadliest in Mozambique’s history, claiming 714 lives, including 648 victims of Cyclones Idai and Kenneth. Both storms were among the strongest ever recorded in the country, displacing hundreds of thousands and destroying entire communities.
Today, as new homes rise on safe ground, Guara-Guara symbolises resilience. It is a reminder that, even in the wake of devastation, communities can rebuild – not only with bricks and mortar, but with vision and determination for a safer tomorrow.
