Mozambique: ‘Inaugurated’ parking silo is closed and will not be operational before March

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Mozambique: ‘Inaugurated’ parking silo is closed and will not be operational before March

6:37 CAT | 08 Feb 2024

Photo: O País

The multi-storey parking silo in downtown Maputo inaugurated on January 26 by Maputo mayor Eneas Comiche at the very end of his mandate is still closed to the public.

During a visit to the infrastructure this Tuesday, newspaper O País learned that the contractor had handed the site over to the Municipal Council only on Monday.

So, when should a project that will provide a service to the public be inaugurated? Should It be when just a part of it is completed, or when all conditions for its public use are in place?

We consulted the Porto Editora online dictionary, which defines inauguration as “the solemnity with which the beginning of the operation of something is marked and celebrated”.

Asked by our reporter, motorist Valério Adriano, himself looking for parking in the area, said: “How can they inaugurate something that isn’t ready yet? My understanding is, you inaugurate something when it is actually available to the public.”

‘O País’ requested an explanation from João Ruas, head of Municipal Mobility and Parking Company EME, the owner of the work. He has a different understanding.

“Like any work, it was inaugurated because it is ready. But now the occupation part is missing,” Ruas argues, going on to explain: “This is like when we inaugurate a house. We hold the inauguration and then begin the occupation.”

“We think everything will be organized by the end of this month [February],” Ruas concluded.

Issues such as insurance for the building and its vehicles, video surveillance cameras and parking meters are currently being addressed – tasks which EME considers “extra-contractual” details.

The 400-bay multi-story parking silo is now due to start operating from March, once all such interventions are accomplished.

But there are, among motorists, those who think that there could be other reasons why the facility was inaugurated before it was completed.

“I think these accelerations might be because the term of office was about to end, so that they could say that they did such and such before leaving,” another driver, Artur Agostinho, said.

The parking silo is part of the several Maputo City Council facilities inaugurated less than two weeks before the end of the term of office, including the Municipal Counter and, just yesterday, a municipal health centre.

Source: O País