The government suspended on Wednesday (10) the activities of Transportes Ideal, the operator of the CityLink line, and its driver, who were involved in a traffic accident on Sunday that resulted in the deaths of seven people and serious injuries to two others in the district of Manhiça, Maputo Province, according to Lusa.
The decision was announced by the Minister of Transport and Communications, João Matlombe, who, in an official statement to the press, ordered “the immediate suspension of passenger transport activities of the company Transportes Ideal, which includes CityLink, and its respective driver,” emphasizing that the measure was taken “to protect the lives of citizens.”
According to information from the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the CityLink bus reportedly overtook without taking proper precautions, colliding violently with a minibus traveling in the opposite direction. The accident, which also caused several minor injuries and considerable material damage, is attributed to excessive speed and irregular maneuvers, causes also confirmed by the Mozambican Republic Police (PRM).
Following the incident, an inquiry commission was established with a 15-day deadline to determine the causes of the accident and issue recommendations on possible additional measures to be applied. The day after the accident, Minister João Matlombe described the incident as the result of “total recklessness,” promising exemplary measures against those directly responsible.
President Daniel Chapo publicly expressed his condolences for the loss of human lives, calling for responsible driving and respect for traffic laws, stressing that “it remains essential to preserve lives and prevent further bloodshed on national roads.”
The Head of State also expressed concern over road accident rates in the country, which from January to September this year had already caused 662 deaths—a number higher than the total fatalities caused by malaria in the same period. Recently, the President also warned of the need for the police to adopt effective measures to prevent and combat accidents, criticizing what he called the “criminal and complicit patronage” by some police commands.
Source: Diário Económico
