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Tete transport operators suspend strike
10:07 CAT | 19 Jan 2018
File photo: Facebook
Private transport operators in the western Mozambican province of Tete on Thursday suspended the strike they declared the previous day, in the mining town of Moatize.
The strike affected the 20 kilometre route between Moatize and Tete city and was intended to put pressure on the provincial government to authorise an increase in the flat rate fare from 15 to 20 meticais (from 25 to 34 US cents).
But the government refused to accept the demand, and the owners of the minibuses (known commonly as “chapas”) put their vehicles back on the roads without winning any increase in the fare.
The Mayor of Moatize, Carlos Portimao, told AIM on Thursday “Today the situation has returned to normal, because we told the operators that, as long as the government does not approve the new fare, the old fare of 15 meticais for a journey from Moatize to Tete city and vice versa remains in force”.
In order to ensure the availability of transport, the municipality on Wednesday authorised people who are not chapa operators to carry passengers to and from Tete city.
“This measure made the operators retreat from their decision”, said Portimao. “They wanted to prejudice passengers who, leaving their houses unprepared, would be taken by surprise by a 20 metical fare”.
The municipality says it is waiting for the Tete provincial government to approve the new fare. According to the provincial director of transport, Romeu Sandoca, a memorandum of understanding is now being drawn up between the provincial government and the Tete Association of Transport Operators, which will establish new inter-district fares including for the Tete-Moatize route.
Source: AIM
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