“Near-death experience”: Armed robbers attack Catholic sisters’ home for girls in Mozambique
“Chapas” strike in Maputo – Watch
11:14 CAT | 20 Aug 2020
Photo: MIramar
Operators of minibuses in the Maputo [where they are known as ‘chapas’] have gone on strike in protest at the 12-passengers cap imposed by presidential decree, the alteration of routes and alleged excessive fines imposed by the municipal police.
Operators of the Matola-Xipamamnie and Manhiça-Xipamanine routes, among others starting or arriving in Xipamanine, suspended activities on Wednesday morning.
“What is the revenue with 12 passengers? It’s 270 meticais. And the solution is that we continue working route and carry 16 passengers,” one of the drivers told ‘O País’.
Drivers and ticket collectors demand that the Maputo Municipal Council, the competent authority in this case, resolve what they consider to be serious problems with their operations.
In addition to switching off their engines, the protesters also stopped other routes operating. Passengers were forced to interrupt their journeys, and had no solution other than to walk or use other routes.
The chapeiros’ strike complicated everything. Arsénica da Conceição, for example, left Xipamanine for Bairro de Jardim, but, with the interruption of service, had to walk to the Junta bus terminal to take another bus. Osvaldo Guirugo, who had to attend urgent matters and then go to work, followed her lead.
The atmosphere became so agitated that all coronavirus preventative measures were ignored. The police arrived at the scene to calm the mood, no easy task with the drivers and ticket collectors demanding an immediate solution to their claims. Unrest was still continuing when ‘O País’ left at around 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday.
By Amândio Borges
Watch TV Miramar report below:
Source: O País / Miramar
Show comments
Also read
Leave a Reply
Be the First to Comment!
You must be logged in to post a comment.
You must be logged in to post a comment.