13 December 2007
Maputo — Mozambican Transport Minister Antonio Mungwambe announced on Wednesday that, as from next year, there will be compulsory regular inspections of all vehicles to make sure that vehicles in dangerous condition are taken off the country's roads.
Addressing a press conference, Mungwambe said "2008 is a year of big changes in terms of carrying out programmes and projects that we have been designing in order to render improved services to our citizens".
Such measures include the introduction of compulsory third party insurance, the computerization of the license issuing system to prevent private transport operators from obtaining more than one license, and the purchase of more vehicles, both for the public and the private sectors.
Talking of the ports and railways, Mungwambe said that his ministry, in cooperation with the government's partners, is to complete the rehabilitation of the northern rail line, linking the port of Nacala, to Malawi.
The Sena line, linking the port of Beira, to the Moatize coal mines in Tete province, with a spur into Malawi, will also deserve special attention from the government in the coming year, he pledged.
As for maritime transport, Mungwambe said that the government has been working to find ways of exploiting more profitably the long coast of the country, purchasing more boats and opening new routes.
In this sector, the government is also planning to increase the number of ferries used for the crossing between Maputo and Catembe, across the bay of Maputo, and between the neighbouring cities of Inhambane and Maxixe, and other places that require such services.
In terms of communications, Munguambe said that all district capitals are to be connected to the fibre-optic system by 2009, which will also allow connections to the fixed and mobile phone systems.
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