The Maputo Municipal Public Transport Company (EMTPM) reports a loss of around 20 million meticals (300,000 dollars) in revenue since October due to the post-election protests in Mozambican, the firm’s president announced.
‘At the moment we are counting a loss of revenue of around 20 million meticals since October last year,’ said Lourenço Albino, quoted by the media on Saturday 25 January.
According to him, the company is also counting losses estimated at 10 million meticals (155,000 dollars) due to the vandalisation of buses, with broken windows and other structures, as well as a charred vehicle.
Lourenço Albino also complained about the reduction in the number of passengers transported per day, which fell from 40,000 people to around 11,000.
‘We’ve had a 30 per cent reduction in the level of activity, which means that the volume of revenue has fallen by 30 per cent and this reduces the company’s capacity to respond to all our needs,’ he added.
The president of EMTPM, which has a fleet of 84 buses, 48 of which are used for public transport, hopes that calm will continue in Mozambican so that the company can recover its production levels.
Since 21 October, Mozambique has been experiencing a climate of strong social unrest, protests, demonstrations and stoppages, called by former presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, with violent clashes between the police and demonstrators, as well as looting and destruction of public and private equipment.
According to the Decide electoral platform, a non-governmental organisation that monitors electoral processes in Mozambique, at least 315 people have died in these protests, including around two dozen minors, and at least 750 people have been shot.
Source: Lusa