The collective transport of passengers, known as "chapas", circulated again in Beira, central Mozambique, after two days of protest, but are threatening to unilaterally increase the price of travel.

"We have resumed activity, but if by Monday there are no solutions, we will apply the rates approved by the municipal assembly," said this Wednesday (13.07) Americo Mussicuane, president of the Association of Transport Workers of Beira (Atabe) quoted by DW.

Mussicuane was speaking to journalists after a meeting with the Beira municipal council for a solution on the paralysis of collective passenger transport.

The associative leader considered the return to activity by the "chapeiros" a relief, admitting that the protest of the transporters penalized the users.

The president of Beira's municipal council, Alberto Carige, appealed to the carriers to start operating again, stressing that the action of the "chapeiros" has harmed the passengers and the economy of the city, among the largest in Mozambique.

Fare increase depends on the central government

Carige assured that he is awaiting the central government's response to the proposals to increase the travel fare submitted by the municipality. The mayor said that the proposal is being analyzed by the Ministry of Transport and Communications.

"It's up to us to wait. What I have to say is that we will resume activities," he emphasized.

The mayor of Beira pointed out that the delay in consensus around the price of passenger transport in Mozambican cities is a demonstration of the flaws of the decentralization of powers process.

The transport crisis that the city of Beira is going through began on Monday, when buses and "chapas", light vehicles improvised as collective urban transport, pulled over their vehicles once again, demanding a review of the price of transport in the city.

The proposal increases the transport fare from 10 meticais to 15 meticais for trips within the city and to 25 meticais for trips outside the city.