Mozambique: Chapo calls for strict enforcement of highway code after 11 deaths in Nicoadala accident

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Mozambique: Chapo calls for strict enforcement of highway code after 11 deaths in Nicoadala accident

3:17 CAT | 15 Sep 2025

Photo: Domingo

Mozambican president Daniel Chapo on Saturday lamented the deaths of at least 11 people in a traffic accident in the Nicoadala district of Zambézia province, calling for responsible driving and strict enforcement of traffic discipline.

“This tragedy reminds us of the urgent need to reinforce discipline on our public roads. Therefore, I call on the competent authorities to redouble their efforts in enforcing and strictly monitoring passenger transport timetables,” reads the president’s message.

At least 11 people died on Saturday morning in a traffic accident in the Nicoadala district, the Ministry of Transport and Logistics announced on its official Facebook page.

The Mozambican head of state expressed his condolences and solidarity with the victims of the accident, stating that these deaths serve as a reminder to everyone of the need to observe road safety measures.

“I urge all motorists to act responsibly, scrupulously adhering to road traffic regulations, to prevent situations like this from continuing to claim lives and plunge Mozambican families into grief and pain,” President Chapo added in his message.

The collision occurred on National Road 10 (N10) between two vehicles, one carrying goods and the other carrying passengers. Authorities say illegal overtaking and excessive speed were among the likely causes of the accident.

At least another 10 people died on Monday in Maputo province, victims of two traffic accidents, with the government pointing to drunk driving as one of the causes.

One of the accidents occurred in the early morning hours in the Moamba district of Maputo province, southern Mozambique, resulting in nine deaths and eight injuries. The second, involving two heavy goods vehicles, occurred in the afternoon between the Matola-Gare and Malhampsene neighbourhoods.

On Tuesday, Lusa reported that at least 575 people died in traffic accidents in Mozambique between January and August, a 14% increase compared to the same period in 2024, according to data from the Mozambican government, which acknowledged “critical challenges” in road safety.

“It is worth noting that from January to August of this year, there were 575 fatalities [due to accidents], compared to 504 in the first eight months of 2024. Material damage is also showing an increasing trend,” spokesperson for the Council of Ministers, Inocêncio Impissa, said at the end of a cabinet meeting in Maputo.

The 430 accidents recorded in Mozambique in the first half of 2025 was an increase of 20 compared to the same period last year, when 410 were recorded nationwide, Impissa said.

Road accident rates in Mozambique are classified as ‘dramatic’, with authorities citing speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol as among the main causes.

On April 15, the Mozambican government approved a Road Safety Action Plan, which includes a series of actions to reduce the number of traffic accidents, including increased inspections, changes to legislation, and interventions at critical points, as well as enhanced community awareness initiatives.

Source: Lusa