Maputo — The charges for using the toll road between Maputo and South Africa are to increase by between 10 and 14 per cent as from 1 April, according to an announcement from the Mozambican National road Administration (ANE).

At the Maputo toll-gate, light vehicles must pay 9,500 meticais every time they cross the gate, rather than the current fee of 8,500, an increase of 11.8 per cent (at current exchange rates there are about 24,000 meticais to the US dollar).

Vehicles such as minibuses will pay 33,000 rather than 30,000 meticais (a 10 per cent rise), while heavy trucks must pay 100,000 rather than 90,000 meticais, which is an 11 per cent increase.

At the second toll gate, at Moamba, 60 kilometres north-west of Maputo, the new charges range from 55,000 to 400,000 meticais, against the existing fees of 50,000 to 350,000 - which are increases of between 10 and 14 per cent.

These increases were agreed between the Mozambican government and the South African company TRAC (Trans-African concessions), which holds the concession on operating the road.

The last time the tolls were increased was on 1 September last year. There can be no justification for these increases in terms of inflation, or currency devaluation. Inflation has dropped to below 10 per cent a year - but when the September 2002 and April 2003 increase are added together, users of the toll road are having to pay increases of up to 65 per cent. As for the metical, it has held its value against the dollar for the last nine months or so - but it has fallen against the South African rand, as have most other currencies. It looks very much as if Mozambican motorists are being forced to pay for the appreciation of the rand.