FACTORY TO PRODUCE DRIVING LICENCES COSTS USD 1.7 MILLION

FACTORY TO PRODUCE DRIVING LICENCES COSTS USD 1.7 MILLION

Maputo, 13 Jan (AIM) – The installation of a factory for the production and printing of Mozambican driving licenses, which is being carried out by the German company Muhlbauer High Tech International, costs 113 million meticais (about 1.8 million dollars at the current exchange rate).

Chinguane Mabote, the Chairperson of the National Road Transport Institute (INATRO), told reporters on Friday that the factory has been operating since mid-2022, with a capacity to produce 200 licences per hour and 1500 per day.

“As for the production of driving licenses, INATRO contracted a company [Muhlbauer High Tech International] to install a processing plant. The same factory is being operated by employees of this institution”, Mabote said.

Muhlbauer replaces Brithol Michcoma which, following a debt from the government of 40 million meticais, decided to suspend the work that was taking place under a contract without the approval of the Administrative Tribunal.

“The issue between INATRO and Brithol Michcoma is in the hands of the competent bodies. We are all aware of the process, at all levels. We are in talks with the entity that offered the services to INATRO”, Mabote said, adding “we are satisfied with the course of the process. It is already in its conclusive phase. We will have information in due course.”

Regarding the closure of 24 driving schools last year, Mabote said “there is ongoing work for the schools to create the necessary conditions for their functioning. We have the portal that facilitates communication between INATRO and the schools. The capacity of the schools to capture students’ data has also increased.”

Mabote also announced that a new portal for access to INATRO services is already in operation. This portal, for now, is available to users in Maputo city and province. It will be expanded to the cities of Beira and Nampula in February.

“Users can access the services without going there in person. The service centres at the Tunduro Garden and at the Compulsory Inspections Centre have also reopened in Maputo City”, he said.

Mabote also said that the ongoing measures aim to improve the quality of service provided to the user, through four pillars: development of human resources, road safety, automation of production processes and digitalization of products.

“This measure avoids crowding in the INATRO delegations. Now, our delegations are free of those queues that we used to see” he said, revealing that work is also underway to redefine production processes through the installation of an integrated system.

“We have intensified our actions on the public highway and several materials have been acquired such as breathalysers and speed control radars. We are also, at this moment, carrying out the revision of the Highway Code, taking into account the current challenges”, he explained.

Regarding the deadlines for the payment of fines, Mabote said motorists fined for traffic offences have 15 days to pay the fine”

“Once the 15 days are over, it is the obligation of the INATRO to remit the records to the courts for enforced collection. Thus, INATRO can no longer make any decision on the case, except the 20 percent of the fine collected prior to the court’s decision and enforcement of the penalty”, he explained.
(AIM)
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