The South African company Trans African Concession (TRAC) is not authorized to disclose the concession contract for National Road number 4 (EN4) with a Mozambican and South African state.

In an interview today with Radio MozambiqueTRAC's Maintenance Director, Fenias Mazize, said that this was because there was a clause preventing it.

"As part of the signing of the contract between TRAC, the Mozambican state, represented by ANE - Administração Nacional de Estradas, and the South African state, represented by SANRAL - South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited's, there was a confidentiality clause, which is why TRAC - which is part of the contract as a guest - does not have the power to disclose this contract," he explained.

TRAC has held the EN4 concession since 1997 - under the governments of Joaquim Chissano in Mozambique and Nelson Mandela in South Africa - and it is valid for 30 years. Almost all the shares belong to South African entities, with 90% of the shares, and the only Mozambican shareholder is Sociedade de Desenvolvimento do Corredor de Maputo, with 10% of the shares.

On the other hand, Mazive said that the contract provides for work to be carried out on the EN4 three years before it expires. Work was due to start last year, in late October and early November, on the Ressano Garcia-Matola stretch, but had to be postponed due to the post-election protests. They resumed this month and will cover 66 km of road.