On Wednesday (07), the Maputo City Council police seized four of a total of 21 vehicles whose drivers were engaged in the practice of transporting people and goods for a fee without legal authorization.

The News During the operation, six vehicles were blocked and towed to the police station where they are waiting for their owners to follow the legal protocols for the seizures.

These are vehicles with up to eight seats that circulate on Avenida Julius Nyerere, from Praça dos Combatentes (Xiquelene), and take people to the entrance of the Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM) and/or the Praça do Destacamento Feminino "Maringwè", on the same avenue. The route is about three kilometers long.

According to the newspaper, the spokesperson for the Municipal Police, Arsénia Miambo, these "pirate" squares that have set up in Praça dos Combatentes, UEM and Praça do Destacamento Feminino were discovered around six months ago. However, MZNews knows that, in reality, the growing activity has been going on for around two years, with the collaborative eyes of the Municipal, Protection and Traffic police. At peak times, the officers even regulate traffic there, but they also allow disorderly parking on the edges of the traffic circle.

The municipality has appealed to motorists to legalize the activity, but the lack of adherence is culminating in the collection of vehicles.

"The awareness-raising period ended on Tuesday, and yesterday a team went to the scene to apply corrective measures to the illegals. When they noticed the police presence, the drivers abandoned their vehicles," said the spokeswoman.