The government plans to rehabilitate around 150 kilometres of roads in the province of Tete, in central Mozambique, following an accident involving a heavy goods vehicle that resulted in 15 deaths and 17 injuries in the district of Marávia. The information was announced by the provincial governor, Domingos Viola.
The accident reportedly occurred in a region where, according to the official, there is a shortage of vehicles suitable for passenger transport, forcing residents to rely on trucks intended for the transport of goods. This situation, combined with poor road conditions, contributes to road accidents such as the one recorded last week.
“Unfortunately the tragedy happened. However, we will work to improve inspections, and trucks will be used exclusively for the transport of goods,” he said.
Viola added that the government plans to launch, in the coming days, a public tender to improve about 150 kilometres of road on the stretch linking the locality of Luia, in the district of Chifunde, to the district capital of Marávia.
“This is good news for everyone. With the improvement of the road, transport operators who currently refuse to make their vehicles available may begin operating in the area, ensuring more dignified transport for our population,” he added.
According to the administrator of the Marávia district, Domingos Jotamo, passenger transport in heavy goods vehicles has been suspended since Friday for road safety reasons.
“Goods transport should carry only goods (…) if that truck that crashed had not been carrying that cargo, we might have had fewer casualties, because what actually killed the people was the load,” the administrator explained.
Nevertheless, Jotamo acknowledged that the population resorts to goods transport vehicles due to the shortage of public passenger transport, caused by the extremely poor road conditions and access in the region where the accident occurred.
Source: Lusa
