11 August 2008
Maputo — The transport company PUTCO-Mocambique is threatening to take legal action because it has been prevented from operating for more than a fortnight, reports Monday's issue of the independent newsheet "Mediafax".
The company is the Mozambican subsidiary of the South African bus company PUTCO. According to the Transport Ministry, it is registered as a Mozambican company, and is fully licensed to operate on Mozambican routes.
PUTCO wanted to operate passenger services between Maputo and the cities of Xai-Xai and Chokwe in Gaza province. For Mozambican operators already plying these routes, this was unwelcome competition, and in July they used their vehicles to blockade the PUTCO buses and prevent them from initiating the routes.
The chairperson of the PUTCO-Mocambique Board of Directors, Abu Taju, told "Mediafax" that the company was running up losses through no fault of its own, and suggested that it might hold the government responsible for the paralysis of its business.
"Somebody must be held responsible because we are being badly damaged because of this". Said Taju. "I wouldn't say that I'm going to demand compensation from the government, but the fact is that our situation is legal, but we are not working, and somebody has to answer for this. We are thinking about this situation to see who we should hold responsible".
The company has to pay its workers and its suppliers, Taju pointed out, but under current circumstances "things are becoming very complicated".
Nonetheless, Taju was optimistic that the company will start its operations in the near future. "Within days we will be able to begin", he said. "We're just waiting for the Transport Ministry, after what happened, to tell us when we can resume. When they reply, our vehicles will immediately take to the roads".
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