Drain covers stolen for scrap in Maputo city: 3 million meticais’ damage last year – Watch

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Drain covers stolen for scrap in Maputo city: 3 million meticais’ damage last year – Watch

1:17 CAT | 24 May 2022

Image: TVM

The vandalization and theft of drain covers cost the Maputo municipality around three million meticais [US$47,000] in damages last year alone, it was announced on Televisão de Moçambique.

According to the city council, the manhole covers [the ones made out of cast iron] are being removed by unknown individuals of bad faith, and sold, it is suspected, to scrap yards.

“When drain covers are stolen, great damage is caused to the municipality. The manholes with missing covers are left open and people fall in, or cars do, and some individuals deposit garbage in them, and this ends up blocking the drainage and sanitation system, preventing adequate drainage on rainy days,” a municipality source explained.

Among the solutions at the municipality’ disposal are the use of less attractive concrete covers and the improvement of security in places more prone to these acts of vandalism.

By Marta Afonso

Watch the TVM report.