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The Municipal Council of Maputo (CMCM) is to start licensing the operators of ‘txovas’, the vending barrows which are becoming increasingly popular on the streets of the capital.
To this end, the Municipal Assembly on Wednesday (26-05) approved a proposal for the revision of the municipal decree on Manual Traction Vehicles, Resolution no. 33/2005 of 21 September.
The approved document establishes rules for the licensing and the circulation of txovas within the municipal jurisdiction, stipulating that txova drivers must obey the traffic rules defined in the Road Traffic Code, and restricting their operating hours to 4:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m..
The provision also establishes that owner of txovas must apply for licenses to carry out their activity, and that, in KaMpfumo, only txovas dedicated to street vending may circulate.
Councillor for Mobility, Transport and Traffic at Maputo Council, José Nicolas, said the measures aim to regulate the operation of this increasingly popular type of activity.
“The [txova] activity is growing exponentially. We decided, before the phenomenon reaches alarming proportions, to take precautions and control their circulation on the capital’s thoroughfares,” he said.
A txova drivers licence will cost 650 meticais, renewable for 350 meticais. Infringements will incur fines varying from 2,500 to 5,000 meticais.
“Individuals caught circulating after hours will be penalised with fines of up to 2,500 meticais, and anybody working informally in KaMpfumo district without a street vending license risks a fine of 5,000 thousand meticais,” Councillor Nicolas explained.
Txovas do not have lights, and the driver-operators do not need a driver’s license, factors which have obliged the municipality to restrict circulation to between 4:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.. Operators will be trained in safety issues such as the use of reflective vests and changing direction, as they share public roads with automobiles.
Offering a balance of other first quarter activities, Mayor Eneas Comiche told members of the Municipal Assembly that the executive had carried out impactful activities such as the laying of the foundation stone of the sports complex in Albasine district, KaMavota, and that, regarding the prevention and control of Covid-19, the second phase of the vaccination campaign, covering 43,056 people, had been 100% successful.
Mayor Comiche said that, in the markets sector, work on the Xipamanine Annex Market was proceeding at a good pace, space being set aside there for a new bus terminal also, and that work on the Mercado do Frango e Magumba would see visible progress within the week with the beginning of the assembly of the containers. Completion is scheduled for June 30, according to the agreement with the contractor.
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