Access to Maputo via the Katembe bridge was blocked this morning by drivers protesting against the Revimo concessionaire for once again charging tolls, a payment that was suspended in recent weeks due to post-election demonstrations.
Since early morning, drivers accessing the toll plaza on the bridge in Katembe, the only entrance to the capital from the south of the country, have been honking their horns and refusing to pay the toll, despite the strong police presence on site.
The refusal to pay caused huge queues, leading those responsible for Revimo to open the toll booth for a moment to allow traffic to flow, without drivers paying. The passage was made in a festive atmosphere.
At around 9:30 am local time (two hours less in Lisbon), drivers immobilized vehicles a few dozen meters before the toll plaza, completely blocking traffic on the way to Maputo.
Dozens of people left their vehicles and made their way to the city, across the bridge, on foot, despite the ban on pedestrians, the same happening to vehicles, which were returning in the opposite direction on a two-way expressway.
The Mozambique Road Network (Revimo), responsible for the construction, maintenance and operation of several national roads, today resumes the collection of tolls in the country, suspended for several weeks due to post-election protests.
"We inform you that, as of Monday, the collection of fees at toll plazas will resume [...] under our management", says a statement released by Revimo.
Also, South Africa's Trans African Concessions (TRAC), the concessionaire of the N4 highway, which connects Maputo to the Ressano Garcia border, resumed toll collection on Thursday, causing popular outrage, with protesters blocking the road and police firing several shots to reopen access to the Maputo toll booth.
In December, then presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane called for the non-payment of tolls in the country, and, after the destruction and vandalization of some toll booths, several were closed, without receiving payments.
Meanwhile, in a document published on Tuesday, with 30 measures that he demands for the next 100 days, Venâncio Mondlane, who does not recognize the official results of the general elections of October 9 that gave victory to Daniel Chapo, once again pointed out the non-charging of tolls throughout the country as a requirement.
"On the N4, the tolls, given their lifespan, have fulfilled the time of profitability in relation to the investment made", it says in the document, demanding the extension of the non-payment of tolls during this period, also claiming that on several toll roads in the country "there was no public consultation" on this charge and "the principle of the alternative route was not respected".
Revimo says that the fees charged through tolls guarantee the maintenance of road infrastructure, stating that it will continue to implement measures to mitigate costs, "including discounts" for public transport of passengers and frequent users.
"We reaffirm our commitment to continue improving our services and offering solutions that benefit all users," the text says.
Since October 21, Mozambique has been experiencing a climate of strong social unrest, protests, demonstrations and strikes, called by former presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, with violent clashes between the police and protesters, as well as looting and destruction of public and private equipment.
According to the electoral platform Decide, a non-governmental organization that monitors electoral processes in Mozambique, at least 315 people have died in these protests, including around two dozen minors, and at least 750 people have been shot.
