Inter-provincial transport in Mozambique; Price hike announced for July 15

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Inter-provincial transport in Mozambique; Price hike announced for July 15

2:04 CAT | 08 Jul 2022

Image: O País

Travelling between provinces in Mozambique will be more expensive from the 15th of this month, the Mozambican Federation of Road Transport Associations (FEMATRO) justifying the measure with the recent hike in fuel prices and the entry into operation of new tolls.

A week after the entry into force of new fuel prices, the Mozambican Federation of Road Transport Associations (FEMATRO) has announced increases in fares for long-distance journeys that will come into force on the 15th of this month.

Increases vary from 140 to 1,100 meticais, depending on the distance. Fares will increase by two meticais per kilometre, against the current 175 meticais, which means passengers will pay 0.25 cents more per kilometre.

For example, travelling from Maputo to Lichinga currently costs 4,900 meticais, but will go up to 6,000 meticais, an increase of 1,100 meticais.

Maputo City to Nampula costs 3,600 meticais, but from the 15th of July will cost 4,500 meticais, an increase of 900 meticais.

The 2,000 meticais Maputo to Chimoio fare will rise 300 meticais to 2,300 meticais, while Maputo to Xai-Xai goes up 140 meticais from 360 to 500 meticais.

The new tariffs result from the increase in fuel prices, FEMATRO president Castigo Nhamane said, but also “it is necessary to know that we did not have tolls [before], [but] today, new tolls on National Road Number One (N1) from, for example, Beira, alone total around 8,360 meticais”.

In addition, there are also maintenance costs, which operators say are astronomical because of the conditions of the EN1.

“STV painted a true picture of the EN1. We are talking about a road where a bus can leave Maputo with new tires and return without any of them,” Nhamane explained. He added that the precarious conditions surrounding transport generally also put the lives of passengers at risk.

The announcement of new fares comes just as the government, through the Maputo Metropolitan Transport Agency, has given assurances that funds are available to subsidise passengers and compensate carriers operating in the country.

By Arnosso Cuco

Source: O País