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Maputo shopping centre reopens hours after inspection closes it
10:46 CAT | 20 Apr 2018
O País / AQUA inspector closing the shopping centre yesterday
The Super Marés shopping centre in Maputo’s Marginal Ave received permission to reopen just hours after an inspection closed its doors yesterday.
“I have already received a phone call that authorises reopening,” owner Mário Gomes told Lusa.
The National Agency for the Control of Environmental Quality (AQUA) closed the shopping centre yesterday and fined it about 500,000 meticais (6,600 Euros) for lack of environmental license.
The suspension note posted on the site stated that the centre was closed “due to non-compliance with environmental audit recommendations” as required by law, adding that “the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is malfunctioning”.
Mr Gomes however maintains that, in addition to not in any case being required by the municipal authorities, the WWTP is operating correctly and the commercial centre has an environmental license valid until 2021.
Mr Gomes said he regretted the action, which had caused “heavy damages”, and which he attributed to a “need for affirmation” by the agency, noting that the inspection came without warning and was accompanied by journalists.
During the inspection, an STV cameraman was assaulted by a commercial zone manager, an act condemned by the Soico media group and a Mozambican NGO committed to defending the freedom of the press.
The owner of the venture admitted to Lusa that the incident had taken place, but said it was the result of provocation.
Source: Lusa
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