Battling noise pollution: Maputo has these fees and fines… to the discontent of social media – reports

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Battling noise pollution: Maputo has these fees and fines… to the discontent of social media – reports

3:26 CAT | 24 Mar 2022

Screen grab: Miramar

Maputo municipality says that its stance on noise pollution, now creating a stir on social media, has existed for more than 15 years, and that the document now circulating on the amounts charged for holding parties is an attempt to denigrate the city’s image.

A document making the rounds on social media reveals the prices charged for high-volume permits for house parties and large events. The aforementioned document caused an avalanche of criticism, since most wanna be social media influencers apparently believe that keeping their neighbours up all night is their God-given right and certainly not something they should worry about let alone pay for.

Meanwhile, Maputo city hall has an explanation for the circulation of the document, 15 or nine years on.

READ: Noise pollution and air pollution in Maputo worsened by lack of regulation

“This is an attitude of malicious people who aim to denigrate the image of the Municipality of Maputo. The Municipal Police vehemently condemns this wave of misinformation that is being broadcast and disseminated through social networks. It should be noted that this stance is not new; it was approved in 2001 and was revised in 2015. Our police have been monitoring this stance for a long time,” Municipal Police spokesperson Mateus Cuna said.

“We had a lot of complaints in 2019, from citizens denouncing noise pollution,” Cuna went on. “We had fewer cases in 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic and its restrictions, which led many recreational establishments to curtail their activities.”

READ: Fines for noise pollution divide city in central Mozambique

The city council says that the amounts for licenses and fines mentioned in the document are correct. For example, anyone who wants to organise a house party with loud music must request authorisation from the respective neighbourhood secretary and pay 250 meticais [US$3.91). Failure to comply can incur a fine of 1,000 meticais [US$15.66].

These amounts can reach 25,000 meticais [US$391.43] for large events, and fines of up to 100,000 meticais [1565.73].

The document also covers noise pollution emanating from churches.

“What happens in our neighbourhoods is that backyards do not offer conditions or space for parties. At some point, citizens feel that they must use the street for this purpose. These citizens must apply for authorisation from the local structures, notifying them of their intention and paying the fee. Not everyone has to pay. A fee is paid when there is a violation of the posture on noise pollution, meaning that sound from a citizen’s house should not interfere with the hearing comfort of the citizens and residents in the neighbourhood,” Cuna explained.

The city council further points out that this device aims to protect citizens.

“Furthermore, “this instrument also applies to passenger vehicles, with greater emphasis on school transport. As to this last point, excessive sound can result in the vehicle being seized for the removal of all equipment. We must not confuse noise pollution with adrenaline. That is a physical risk that can disrupt children’s education. Loud sound can reduce students’ pedagogical performance,” Cuna added.

“This instrument aims to establish benchmarks regarding sound emission. We try to educate the citizens that, as soon as sound interferes with the peace and quiet of another citizen, it is considered noise pollution,” he concludes.

Maputo City Council says that, from March 9 to 20, nine entities in the capital were fined a total of 56,000 meticais.

By Raúl Massingue

Maxaquene neighbourhood resident Mr Mafaite tells Miramar how, on weekends one doesn’t sleep with the noise in his area. He also mentions that many men living there work night shifts and cannot rest during the day.

Watch the Miramar report