Decentralisation: Transport fare rises are up to local governments – Minister | Mozambique

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Decentralisation: Transport fare rises are up to local governments – Minister | Mozambique

2:48 CAT | 31 Mar 2022

File photo: O País

The Minister of Transport and Communications has delegated to the municipal, district and provincial governments the decision on whether or not to increase public transport fares.

Since the rise in fuel prices, transporters have in five cities have cease to provide services, demanding fare increases.

It was not long after the government announced an increase in the price of fuel that voices of discontent arose from passenger carriers alleging that their business had become unsustainable. In fact, FEMATRO even said that some carriers might abandon the sector altogether.

The last stoppage took place in the city of Tete, but in the last two weeks, passengers carriers in five provincial capitals have struck in favour of a tariff increase.

There have been stoppages in Nampula, Beira, Inhambane, Tete and Maputo cities, and the government, which says it is aware of the problem, on Wednesday passed the buck, disowning any responsibility for deciding on fare increases.

“This issue of price increases is being managed. As government, we have been monitoring the situation and issuing subsidies to the provincial authorities. As for the ongoing pressure around the rise in the price of district transport and at municipal level, its management is also being carried out in the same manner,” said Minister of Transport and Communications, Janfar Abdulai, claiming that decentralisation of powers is in this way being implemented.

Decisions taken by municipal and provincial assemblies would be more in accordance with conditions in existence there.

The subsidy that the Minister of Transport and Communications refers to is for an increase in fares that does not constitute a burden on passengers.

“A middle ground would be for the operator not to feel discouraged from putting his service into operation, but the citizen cannot be penalised any more. Hence, a permanent dialogue between the government and the private operator is key,” the minister explained.

On Tuesday, the provincial government of Inhambane decided to increase inter-district fares in Inhambane province by 1.5 meticais per kilometre from 10 Apri.

This increases the current 280 meticais fare from Maxixe to Vilankulo to 350 meticais.

The Maxixe to Govuro fare goes up from 420 to 550 meticais, and that from Maxixe to Zavala from 145 to 190 meticais. The smallest increase – from 50 to 60 meticais – is that on the Inhambane-Maxixe route.

The new tariff was approved this Tuesday, the government saying it hoped all parties would find it reasonable.

According to Inhambane’s provincial Director of Transport and Communications, Irina Ribeiro, carriers at first presented a proposal for a 1.7 meticais per-kilometre rise, but after five rounds of negotiations, 1.5 meticais was agreed upon.

Maritime transport tickets currently costing 15 meticais also look set to go up. Irina Riberio told ‘O País’ that the authorities already have a proposal under discussion, but did not advance any deadline for approval or entry into force.

In relation to urban transport, the readjustment of bus fares depends on municipal assemblies, which have not yet convened to debate a transport operators’ proposal for a five meticais increase.

Source: O País