Maputo, 13 Dec (AIM) – Transport operators have reported losses of 375 million meticais (about six million US dollars) during the current post-election unrest in Mozambique, according to the Mozambican Federation of Road Transport Associations (Fematro), cited by the independent television station STV.
“The sector was already facing a shortage of cargo and of passengers”, said Fematro spokesperson, Jorge Manhica. “On inter-provincial routes, we have the degradation of the main north-south highway (EN1) which is almost destroying vehicles every day”.
He added that, in addition to the lack of revenue, the companies are facing serious damage to their buses. “We have the problem of vehicles being burned, and windows being smashed. In some cases, demonstrators entered the buses, and stole all the property of the passengers and the crew”.
During the so-called “4×4” demonstrations, ordered by fugitive presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane, from 4 to 11 December, vehicles were ordered to stay off the roads from 08.00 to 16.00.
“So the buses could only leave at 16.30, and try to make a return journey”, said Manhica. ”But the fares collected did not compensate for the expenditure. The buses couldn’t even replace the fuel they had used. As if that were not enough, the traffic was heavy in the hours of free circulation, because all the drivers took to the roads at the same time”.
He added that motorists faced groups extorting money from them at informal tollgates, and unfair competition from unlicensed vehicles.
Now that the situation has been more or less normalised, clandestine attempts were being made to increase bus fares. “As a federation, we distance ourselves from this”, said Manhica. “It’s important to stress that fares have not been increased. The fares are the same as those approved in 2022, and we have to comply with them. We cannot take advantage of the suffering of the public”.
But, despite these problems, Manhica pledged that the transport operators will redouble their efforts “to ensure that there is no shortage of transport during the festive season”.
“If conditions allow, we shall be there to take any citizen wherever they want to go”, he said.
(AIM)
Pf/ (360)
