Zambezi Valley Development Study

The Lower Zambezi River basin, running through Mozambique and Malawi, is one of the world’s poorest regions, yet also one of enormous economic potential.  The Lower Zambezi has highly diversified economic potential in agriculture, mining, manufacturing, industry, hydropower, transport, and other services.  As a gateway to several inland countries in Africa, the Lower Zambezi can also play a very important role in the economic development of Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 

In June 2011, the Vale Columbia Center released a consultative draft report on Resource-Based Sustainable Development in the Lower Zambezi Basin, the result of a year-long inquiry into how the vast resource deposits in Tete province, combined with other major investments along the Nacala and Beira corridors, can be the basis for sustainable, equitable and inclusive growth in the Lower Zambezi Basin.

The report recommends a framework of actions by Mozambique and its public and private partners to ensure that Mozambique reaps a major boost to economic development from its vast resource endowments, while also respecting the profitability of private-sector investments in these important projects.  In short, the report aims for a “win-win” arrangement in which all stakeholders, public and private, derive benefits from the mining sector in Tete Province. 

The consultative draft was presented in Mozambique in June 2011 to serve as the basis for discussion, comment, and engagement with the range of stakeholders- government, private sector, development partners, regional banks, and civil society. Comments are welcome on the report.  The Vale COlumbia Center looks forward to working with stakeholders in the region on implementation.

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