Trans African Concessions (TRAC), the concessionaire of National Road Number Four (N4), which links Tshwane, Gauteng (South Africa) and the Port of Maputo (Mozambique), across the Ressano Garcia border, announced that it will restart toll collection on Thursday (23) on the road, which was suspended in recent weeks following the post-election protests.
In a statement, the South African company recalled that it operates the N4, ‘under a concession agreement signed with the South African and Mozambican road agencies’, and that this road is ‘a vital part of the Maputo Corridor Development Plan, which boosts regional economic growth and connectivity’, as well as ensuring the export of South African minerals along the Mozambican coast.
‘Toll fees finance the construction, modernisation and maintenance of roads, guaranteeing international standards,’ the entity underlined in a document shared with Diário Económico on Wednesday (22).
In December, former presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane called, during the post-election protests in Mozambique, for tolls not to be paid in the country, and after the destruction and vandalisation of some collection booths, several of them were closed without taking payments, including on the N4.
On Friday (17), during the presentation of more than 20 government measures, Mondlane reiterated the non-payment of tolls by motorists throughout the country, claiming that in some places where tolls are set there has been no public consultation on the collection of tolls.
‘On the N4, the tolls, given how long they’ve been in place, have been profitable in relation to the investment made. On several toll roads in the country, there was no public consultation about the charges and the alternative route principle was not respected. Many of the roads are in a disastrous state, offending the idea of benefiting from services,’ he said.
The post-election demonstrations in Mozambique, called by Venâncio Mondlane, have resulted in 314 deaths and more than 600 people shot since 21 October, as well as violent clashes with the police, looting and the destruction of public and private facilities.
