Mozambique: Police clear Maputo beach – AIM report

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Mozambique: Police clear Maputo beach – AIM report

3:37 CAT | 09 Nov 2020

Photo: O País

The Mozambican police on Sunday afternoon cleared the Costa do Sol beach in Maputo, after thousands of revellers refused to obey basic measures of prevention against the Covid-19 pandemic.

Temperatures soared during the day, eventually hitting 41 degrees celsius. The heat attracted many thousands of people to the beaches from Maputo and the neighbouring city of Matola.

But, despite all the insistence by the government that masks must be worn in any public place where crowds gather, the majority of those who poured onto the Costa do Sol beach were not covering their faces. Nor was there any attempt to observe social distancing. Despite the specific ban on drinking alcohol on the beaches, some people could be observed drinking beer.

The Costa do Sol Disaster Risk Management Commission tried in vain to persuade beachgoers to behave responsibly. Some claimed they did not know that social distancing was obligatory on beaches.

So, at about 15.00, the police ordered everybody to abandon the beach. There were some verbal protests, but no physical clashes were reported.

After everyone had left, municipal officials gazed in disgust at the mess left behind – food debris, broken bottles, and the ubiquitous plastic bags.

When the beaches were reopened last month, President Filipe Nyusi warned that if people violated Covid-19 safety measures, then the beaches could be closed again, and Sunday’s scenes may have brought that possibility closer.

Temperatures soared even higher in the western province of Tete, reaching 46 degrees celsius. Tete is landlocked, but it has large rivers, and so many residents of Tete city cooled off in the Zambezi and Revobue rivers (despite the risk of crocodile attacks).

As in Maputo, there was little sign of people protecting themselves against Covid-19. Few were wearing masks or observing social distancing.

Temperatures are now falling in southern Mozambique, but the National Meteorology Institute (INAM) warns that in Tete and the central province of Zambezia temperatures of 42 degrees or more will continue on Tuesday, perhaps accompanied by thunderstorms.

Source: AIM