The Mozambican Federation of Road Transport Associations (Fematro) has estimated losses of around 450 million meticals since the demonstrations to contest the election results began.
‘The losses that we have added up during this time of demonstrations in the area of passenger transport are around 450 million meticals, just in terms of lost revenue and not including the vandalisation of transport. The daily losses are, on average, 55 million meticals,’ Jorge Manhiça, spokesperson for Fematro, told Lusa this Friday, 13 December.
According to the representative, the losses relate to urban and inter-provincial transport in the provinces of Maputo and Gaza, in southern Mozambique.
‘If this doesn’t stop in the next few days, it could condemn a large part of the number of passenger transport companies in the urban area, including the interprovincial ones,’ which could be “bankrupt and without any cars to put on the road,” explained the spokesman, adding that at least 17 vehicles had been vandalised.
A total of 16 people, including four members of the police, have died in the last seven days in clashes between the authorities and demonstrators protesting against the election results in Mozambique, an official source said.
The balance sheet presented by the General Command of the Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM) also indicates that 73 people have been injured, including members of the police and demonstrators who are supporters of Venâncio Mondlane, the presidential candidate leading the demonstrations against the results of the 9 October elections.
The latest report by the non-governmental organisation (NGO) Plataforma Eleitoral Decide, which observed the electoral process, indicated that 110 people had died and more than 300 had been injured as a result of clashes between police and demonstrators since 21 October.
Venâncio Mondlane, who is abroad, has been calling for the protests on the social network Facebook, and in his latest communication promised to be in Maputo to be sworn in as Mozambican President on 15 January, the date scheduled for the swearing in of the new head of state.
‘The 5th Mozambican President, elected by the people, will take office on the 15th. Be prepared,’ said Mondlane, who on Monday announced new protests for the coming days.
Lusa
