Mozambique: Violent demonstrations continue to prevent normal operation of toll roads – AIM

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Mozambique: Violent demonstrations continue to prevent normal operation of toll roads – AIM

12:33 CAT | 26 Feb 2025

File photo: Impala

At least 15 toll roads operated by the companies Rede Viária de Moçambique (REVIMO) and Trans African Concessions (TRAC) in Mozambique are still not charging vehicles for road use due to violent demonstrations in some Mozambican cities.

Council of Ministers spokesperson Inocêncio Impissa warned that non-payment of tolls would soon begin to have a negative impact on the maintenance of concession roads, which might then no longer provide adequate conditions for safe vehicle circulation.

“The country has seen strange scenarios of boycotts of normal operation of toll roads, but certainly, in a few years, in some time, we will begin to see roads with serious access problems, and the toll roads themselves without the capacity to restore these roads so that they can operate,” Impissa said.

Motorists have not been paying tolls for more than three months now. In mid-January, the government announced the resumption of toll collection, particularly in Maputo-Matola and Moamba, Maputo province, both under the management of TRAC.

However, the attempted resumption of toll collection led to violent exchanges between demonstrators and TRAC managers, as well as with residents of areas close to the infrastructure, who set up roadblocks.

The non-payment of tolls is part of the post-election demonstrations called by presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, defeated in the 7th general elections of 9 October, 2024, which were won by current President of the Republic, Daniel Chapo, who was sworn in to office more than two months ago.

Impissa explained that the concession tolls were essentially intended to keep roads in perfect conditions for traffic and comfort. “But with the paralysis of the toll collection capacity, the resources to restore these roads will also be scarce, and then we will once again complain that nothing is being done to keep
the roads passable,” he said.

The government says that dialogue in underway with the parties involved in the toll process in order to bring them together and encourage them to live together in a harmonious way.

Impissa explained that a considerable number of the people damaging toll infrastructure
were disadvantaged local communities who did not even own vehicles.

Source: AIM