Truckers finally leave Port of Maputo – Carta

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Truckers finally leave Port of Maputo – Carta

3:00 CAT | 09 Jun 2022

Image: Carta de Moçambique

Truck drivers last Tuesday (07-09) finally vacated their customary parking spot next to the Port of Maputo Gate 1, a source from the Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC) confirmed to ‘Carta’ on Wednesday (08-06).

Their withdrawal comes after the Judicial Court of the City of Maputo on May 24 ordered the Association of Truck Drivers of the Port of Maputo to hand over the area, free of people and goods, by 3:00 p.m. on June 7, 2022.

The court’s decision followed an appeal filed by MPDC against an injunction submitted by the Association of Truck Drivers of the Port of Maputo, during which the Association failed to show sufficient reasons to remain in the area, which belongs to the Port of Maputo.

The court order mentions that the Transporters’ Association of the Port of Maputo, represented by Tamimo Mahomed, in his capacity as president and by its lawyer Aboobakar Omar, undertook to deliver the occupied area, free from persons and property, on the said day and time.

“The applicant, MPDC, represented by Mr. Paulo Emílio Goodwin Mata, with the functions of Project Director and also by the respective lawyer Aliado Pascoal, accepts the conditions presented by the defendant. Under these terms, the parties agree to deliver and to receive the area referred to in this agreement, on the date and time also referred to therein by the defendant. The parties also agree to give this agreement the nature of an enforceable title [a judicial enforcement instrument],” the court order reads.

Three years ago, MPDC tried to persuade the truck drivers to voluntarily vacate the site so that requalification works could go ahead, improving access to the port, but they refused on the grounds that they had pursued their business from their for several years, and besides, they had nowhere else to park.

They did ask the MPDC to indicate another parking spot, but the Port of Maputo management company failed to do so.

The removal of the truck drivers, a source from MPDC says, will allow requalification works to start as soon as possible, with completion expected by December of this year.

Source: Carta de Moçambique