Maputo Council opens centres to receive goods & money: “Giving alms is a violation because it encourages begging”

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Maputo Council opens centres to receive goods & money: “Giving alms is a violation because it encourages begging”

9:19 CAT | 29 Sep 2016

Noticias

Beggars and anyone who gives to them risk a fine under a new approach adopted by Maputo City Council. The new approach will regulate the channelling aid to those in need, and aims to control the movement of vulnerable people and facilitating measures for their benefit.

According to Boavida Chambale, Maputo official responsible for street people and beggars, the seeking and giving of alms at the doors of shops, hotels, catering establishments and places of worship will be prohibited.

Motorists and pedestrians on public highways are also out of bounds.

“The distribution of any kind goods to beggars in public or private places, other than those officially established, requires prior authorisation by and monitoring of the Municipal Council of Maputo,” he said.

People who wish to give must deliver the donations to appropriate institutions.

City Council to set up two open centres

“Two open centres will be set up to receive goods and money. Those in need will receive them on certain days of the week,” he said, adding that these sites will also offer recreational play and income generation activities.

Chambale said that both individuals begging and those giving would be penalised.

“Giving alms is a violation because it encourages begging, so individuals and institutions that sponsor this action will be penalised,” he said.

Chambale stressed that public awareness campaigns would be undertaken before any fines were levied, and said that the scheme’s implementation would depend on coordination between various institutions in the city.

“We are counting on all the members of municipal bodies and administrative structures, including neighbourhood and block watches, to watch out for and denounce any participation that goes against the provisions of the new statute,” he said.

Source: Noticias