The "chapa" passenger transporters paralyzed the activities, since the early hours of this Monday, in the cities of Maputo and Matola, in protest to the latest readjustment of fuel prices.

At the Zimpeto, Albazine, Magonine, and Praça dos Combatentes terminals the cars are parked, some without drivers and conductors present. Those who made the first trips to the city center were only allowed to return to the terminals outside the cement zone. On the Matola city side the municipal company buses remained in the garage.

The downtown area of Maputo is almost 'empty' according to a source of MZNews that, leaving the city of Matola, arrived in downtown Maputo thanks to a ride.

The stops are overcrowded and some people can only get into the city center by climbing into private cars whose drivers charge about 70 meticais per person for the trip.

Images to which we had access show the National Road Number 1 (EN1) blocked by barricades at the exit of the terminal of Zimpeto, in the directions of access and exit of the city of Maputo.

In some terminals there is a contingent of duly armed Police of the Republic of Mozambique (Protection Police and Rapid Intervention Unit) and Municipal Police.

Also on strike are the transporters of "school vans", who had already warned parents of the possibility of this situation, which also paralyzes school activities.

Meanwhile, the cars of the state institutions for the collection of employees are moving around. And what you see on the streets are workers from private institutions have returned to their homes on foot.

It is not yet known until when the situation will prevail, but for now there is no pronouncement from the Minister of Transport and Communications, Mateus Magala, who after taking office promised to improve the sector. Some transporters' associations are already meeting to find a way to resolve the situation.

This year alone, fuel prices have gone up three times. The latest readjustment went into effect last Saturday (02), after an announcement made, on Friday (01), by the Energy Regulatory Authority (Arene).

Gasoline went up from 83.30 meticais per liter to 86.97 meticais and diesel went from 78.97 meticais to 87.97 meticais per liter. Cooking gas registered the biggest increase, going from 85.53 to 102.2 meticais per kilo, up 19.5%.

Vehicle gas increased from 40.57 to 43.73 meticais and lamp oil rose from 71.48 meticais to 75.58 meticais per liter.