The Municipality of Maputo has announced that it has already licensed approximately 1,070 semi-collective passenger transport operators, with the aim of organizing the sector and ensuring access to government subsidies in light of rising fuel prices.
“This year, as of June 19, we have issued 1,070 licenses—a significant increase that demonstrates operators’ confidence in the measures adopted by the municipality and the collective will to build a more organized, safe, and efficient transportation system,” said Mayor Rasaque Manhique.
Manhique noted that the licensing process is part of a series of measures implemented by municipal authorities to organize the urban semi-collective transportation sector, facilitate access to the subsidies announced by the government, and mitigate the impact of rising fuel prices due to the conflict in the Middle East.
“We want transport operators to understand that the municipality is on their side, willing to create the conditions for them to operate within the law, without unnecessary additional costs and without room for illegal practices,” explained the mayor, adding that a transport operator with all the required documentation should not resort to corruption on public roads.
According to the councilman, this measure is deeply educational, inclusive, and aimed at combating corruption. “We opened our doors, created the right conditions, simplified procedures, and offered free registration. There was room for dialogue and an opportunity for everyone to participate in the process, so it is important that each person fulfill their responsibilities,” he noted.
In May, the government announced an adjustment to fuel prices, justifying the revision as being in line with prices on international markets. The price of a liter of gasoline rose to 93.69 meticais, up from 83.57 meticais, and diesel rose from 79.88 meticais to 116.25 meticais. Lamp oil rose from 66.86 meticais to 97.56 meticais per liter, cooking gas went from 86.05 meticais to 87.82 meticais per kilogram, and natural gas for vehicles rose from 41.11 meticais to 52.73 meticais per liter.
It was recently announced that the government disbursed approximately 1.6 million dollars in May to compensate passenger transport operators in the Maputo metropolitan area, in a measure aimed at preventing fare increases following the rise in fuel prices.
Data from the Maputo Metropolitan Transportation Agency (AMT) indicate that 15-seat semi-collective transport vehicles accounted for the largest share of the subsidies, receiving about half of the total amount disbursed. Vehicles with a capacity of between 26 and 35 passengers also received a significant portion of the subsidies, while larger buses benefited from additional support.
The government justified the measure by citing the need to protect public transit users from the effects of rising operating costs and to prevent additional pressure on families’ cost of living. At the time the measure was announced, the Secretary of State for Transportation and Logistics, Chinguane Mabote, explained that the subsidy aims to minimize the social impact caused by rising fuel prices and ensure the continuity of passenger transportation services.
