The Competition Regulatory Authority (ARC) said today that the determination of prices for obtaining a charter is up to each school within its commercial freedom.

Reacting to the new price list set by the Association of Driving Schools of Mozambique (AECOMO), the PCA of ARC, Iacumba Ali, said that each driving school or company should determine autonomously its commercial policy. But he also recognizes that this generates unpredictability in a market that is intended to be of free competition.

"The fixing of a price by an association of undertakings, even if only indicative or recommended, is considered restrictive of competition, since it is likely to influence the commercial policy of the members," he explained.

Thus, according to Ali, the ARC ordered, preventively and with immediate effect, the suspension of the deliberation that sets the new prices for admission to driving schools.

The PCA of the Competition Regulatory Authority considers "serious", the decisions and recommendations of associations of companies that are likely to limit the freedom of companies to determine autonomously their commercial policy.

According to AECOMO, students should pay 11.500 meticais for heavy vehicles, 9.500 meticais for light vehicles and 6.700 meticais for motorcycles.