<p>This article analyses how governance deficiencies shape the development of informal settlements in Mozambique, with a particular focus on informal self-construction of housing and basic infrastructure in contexts where the state’s presence is simultaneously limited and complicit. The study aims to analyse how residents effectively take on governance functions by producing housing and collectively organising basic services that would ordinarily fall under public authority mandates. The analysis focuses on the metropolitan area of Maputo, Mozambique, drawing on two neighbourhoods—Chamissava and Malhangalene—as case studies that represent, respectively, expanding peripheral areas and consolidated inner-city contexts. Through these cases, the study identifies systemic deficiencies in urban planning, construction oversight, and policy implementation, thereby revealing the limited effectiveness of existing housing strategies in responding to rapid urban change. Based on fieldwork conducted under challenging socio-political conditions and developed in collaboration with municipal officials, technical staff, and residents, the study highlights the everyday interactions between informal housing practices and weak governance arrangements. The findings show how communities strategically adapt to institutional shortcomings—and, at times, leverage political moments—to address pressing housing needs. In doing so, the article underscores the need for improved institutional coordination and more context-sensitive regulatory approaches to address the persistence of informal urban development in Maputo and similar urban contexts.</p>