The Confederation of Economic Activities (CTA) warns that the Port of Maputo could reduce its competitiveness in the market if there are restrictions on the movement of cargo vehicles.

The business community was thus reacting to one of the various measures recently announced by the Minister of Transport and Communications, Mateus Magala, to reduce rush-hour road traffic in the Greater Maputo region. According to Magala, quoted by SundayOne of the measures is a ban on the movement of trucks carrying various types of cargo to the Port of Maputo.

For the President of CTA's Transport Department, Zuneid Calumia, the implementation of this measure could also affect logistical and operational costs and, consequently, the price of the final product.

Calumia, quoted by SundayHe explained that there are pre-determined hours for loading goods and that if the schedule is not met, the freight forwarder will once again have to pay the storage fee for the product and the line, which is valued at 8,000 meticais. In the case of general cargo, storage costs around 6,000 meticais per hour, which, combined with other costs, can cost up to 20,000 meticais.

"Therefore, the measure will increase operating costs to be borne by the logistics sector or the end consumer," he noted, stressing that "somehow someone will be hurt".

Thus, the President of the CTA's Transport Department believes that the solution to congestion and greater mobility at peak times should be the widening of roads, as well as an increase in public transport to reduce private vehicles on the roads.