Mozambique: Inhaca residents resort to sailboats to travel to Maputo, ferry awaits repairs

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Mozambique: Inhaca residents resort to sailboats to travel to Maputo, ferry awaits repairs

2:58 CAT | 07 Jul 2022

Photo: Notícias

No resumption date for Maputo-KaNyaka connection

The ferry service between the city of Maputo and KaNyaka Municipal District (Inhaca Island) has been suspended since last Friday, pending repair work on the ferry vessel, Notícias reports today.

The interruption of service on the route, resumption of which has not yet been scheduled, has been brought about by the necessity of addressing shortcoming on the vessel, according to a note posted at the Maputo pier.

Transmarítima representative Wisdom Magagule said, cited by Notícias, that the measure aims to avoid the worst, should a shipwreck occur, due to the current stage of the ferry.

“Maintenance work budgeted at around 25 million meticais [around US$391,000] has not yet started,” Magagule said.

Residents of Inhaca Island are worried about the situation.

Marcelina Chaincomo, aged 46, says that, since the interruption of service on the route, life has become more difficult for all residents.

She says that most passengers use sailing boats for the transport of goods, and users can wait for hours, especially in periods of high demand.

Marcelina adds that, in addition to sailing boats, there are speedboats operating, but the prices charged by the latter are exorbitant, reaching as much as 1,500 meticais per (one-way) trip.

“We are suffering. We can’t afford the speedboats, and the only way to travel is to take the most accessible boat, the sail boats, and accept the risk. We ask that the government speed up repairs to the ferry,” she said.

Resident Assura Boane says that she is experiencing severe disruption, because she lives in KaNyaka Municipal District but works “in the city”.

She says that people, out of desperation, no longer pay attention to the crowding in the sail boats but pile on board and continue their journey despite the risk.

Assura notes that, when similar situations occurred in the past, alternatives were provided, but today the population is left to fend for itself entirely.

Another resident, Elisete Chabana, argues that speedboat carriers should lower their prices, especially for locals.

Source: Notícias