Maputo – The Japanese government has donated US$97,500 to Mozambique to support the rehabilitation of a fishing school in Maputo province and the construction of a leprosy infirmary in Zambézia province.
Hamada Keiji, Japan’s ambassador to Mozambique, said the funding goes beyond building facilities, aiming to strengthen education and health while deepening cooperation between the two countries. Of the total, US$47,500 will renovate the Maputo Fishing School, the only one of its kind in the country. Upgrades include a training room, energy and water systems, and two warehouses covering 333.2 square metres, providing students with safer and more practical learning spaces.
The remaining US$50,000 will finance the construction of a 184.5 square metre leprosy ward at Alto Molócue District Hospital in Zambézia, implemented by the international organisation Mission Against Leprosy. The new ward will provide a safe environment for patients with leprosy and tuberculosis and improve access to health services in the region.
Estela Maússe, director of the Fishing School, described the donation as a “historic milestone” for the institution, which has not undergone major refurbishment in its 45-year history. She noted Japan’s longstanding support in education and technical training, including past donations of vessels for practical classes.
Pedro Safrão, national director of Mission Against Leprosy, said that over 2,800 new leprosy cases were diagnosed in Mozambique in 2024, including more than 10 percent in children under 15. He called the Japanese support a symbol of hope, dignity, and solidarity for patients.
Japan had earlier pledged over €50 million to projects in Mozambique under a new model of international cooperation announced in March 2024.
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