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The surrender to ‘My Love’ – report
2:45 CAT | 16 May 2019
Photo: O País
The Mozambican government has admitted that ‘My Loves’ will continue to be the transport solution for many passengers for some time to come, in spite of the danger that they often represent.
So said Minister of Transport and Communications Carlos Mesquita in parliament on Wednesday in response to a question posed by the Frelimo bench on the prospects of improving public transport in the country.
“Open-air vehicles will continue to serve as feeders for the main transport corridors in the short term, through the concession of routes,” Mesquita said.
According to Minister Mesquita, one of the constraints forcing this legitimating of ‘My Loves’ is the nature of roads infrastructures in the outlying neighbourhoods of the Maputo metropolitan area, for example, which makes access by other means difficult. “The buses that the government has allocated to the private sector can’t go to the places closest to the citizens,” he remarked.
“The legitimisation of [the My Loves] will enable drivers to be held accountable in case of contravention,” he explained.
“In spite of the government’s policies on the allocation of buses to the private sector, we believe that it is necessary to regulate open-air vehicles (My Loves), which must meet requirements regarding convenience and safety,” he said.
Mesquita said that the executive was not unconcerned about the insecurity of this type of transport and announced the imminent unveiling of a new model which would be more comfortable and safer for users.
“Taking into account the transportation of people carrying goods with them, the AMT (Metropolitan Transport Agency of Maputo) aims to build a multipurpose vehicle, with bodywork designed and built in Mozambique, which will meet the needs of the population,” he revealed.
The first of this new type vehicle will be tested in July, according to Mesquita. Construction is to be undertaken by the João Ferreira dos Santos Group, and the vehicle will have a carrying capacity of 21 passengers and an estimated load of 750 kg.
The municipal districts of Ka Nyaca (Inhaca), the Maputo Special Reserve, the Machangulo Peninsula and several districts of the city and province of Maputo will be the first areas to be served.
By William Mapote
Source: O País
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