Construíndo uma nova centralidade : requalificação urbana do Bairro de Guachene: Distrito Municipal da Katembe

Abstract

With the completion of the Maputo–Katembe bridge and the requalification of the road to Ponta de Ouro, the Municipal District of Katembe has experienced significant population growth. This process has driven urban expansion marked by the disorderly division of vast peri-urban areas. The growing demand for urbanizable land, combined with the progressive appreciation of urban land, has fostered the accelerated development of the land market in the region. However, this urbanization dynamic has generated complex challenges, namely land conflicts arising from dual land allocations, carried out by both traditional authorities and the Maputo Municipal Council (CMM). The lack of clarity in the formal demarcation of plots aggravates this situation, resulting in a significant increase in disputes related to land use and possession. In this context, the present urban intervention proposal aims to align with the territorial transformation processes already underway, such as the construction of road infrastructure and public facilities. The project proposes the urban requalification of the Guachene neighborhood, focusing on the regeneration of ecologically sensitive areas, promoting a rational and environmentally sustainable use of the territory. Furthermore, the aim is to guarantee adequate living conditions for families currently living in vulnerable areas, as well as to resettle those who occupy the 100-meter protection strip along the coast. One of the central elements of the proposal is the development of a new riverfront (waterfront), integrated into the urban fabric of Guachene, conceived as a qualified public space, which promotes coexistence, leisure, sustainable mobility and the environmental and landscape enhancement of the coast. This intervention also aims to enhance urban equipment and services in the district, contributing to the consolidation of a new urban center in Katembe.