Matola — The Mayor of Matola, Arao Nhancale, has appealed to residents to avoid joining any protests that put at risk public order.

Speaking on Thursday morning on Radio Mozambique, Nhancale urged the drivers of privately owned minibus taxis (known colloquially as "chapas") to resume work as quickly as possible to allow the lives of residents to return to normal.

"Life has to return to normal. People should assume that they are also part of the solution to the difficulties facing the country", said Nhancale, appealing for calm from citizens.

The appeal was made at a time when the situation in Matola was relatively calm, in comparison with Wednesday when the cities of Maputo and Matola were completely paralysed.

During the beginning of Thursday, the situation was somewhat normal. However, at about 10 o'clock in the morning riots returned to Matola, focussing on the national highway, the EN4. Protestors, who were mainly young people and children, burned tyres, tree trunks and other objects.