LUSA 12/18/2025

Lusa - Business News - Mozambique: Govt lifts ban on transporter involved in crash that killed seven

Maputo, Dec. 17, 2025 (Lusa) - The Mozambique Ministry of Transport announced on Wednesday that it has lifted the suspension of the transport company involved in a road accident that killed seven people in Maputo, in southern Mozambique.

"The Ministry of Transport and Logistics, after consulting with the National Road Transport Institute, the traffic police and other stakeholders, and in view of the results of the work carried out by the technical team set up for this purpose, has decided to lift the suspension of the Transporte Ideal company," said Luís Chaúque, spokesperson for the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, during a press conference in Maputo.

On 10th December, the Mozambican Minister of Transport suspended the activities of the company Transporte Ideal (of which CityLink and its driver are an integral part) involved in the accident that killed seven people in "defence of the lives of citizens".

According to Luís Chaúque, the suspension of the transport company was lifted in the interests of the people, who during the festive season need more means of transport to travel for tourism, holidays or to return to their areas of origin.

"Citylink is one of the key players in ensuring interprovincial connections, especially during this festive season, but it is important to make it very clear that the Ministry of Transport and Logistics (...) will not tolerate behaviour by drivers that puts people's lives at risk," said Luís Chaúque.

He clarified that the measure does not cover the driver and does not exempt the transport company from liability for the accident, which will be fined around 42,000 meticais (€559) and must compensate the victims' families, as well as providing road safety training for its drivers and ensuring they undergo the "necessary retraining".

"It has been proven that the accident occurred due to negligence and violation of the highway code rules by the driver, who remains suspended and will be punished (...) without neglecting the fact that he has already been made an official suspect, and the case must follow the procedures of justice," said the official.

Chaúque also warned that enforcement teams are on the alert and the authorities will not hesitate to apply "appropriate measures" to curb road accidents on Mozambican roads.

On 4 December, the Mozambican government announced that it wanted "zero tolerance" for offending drivers to prevent road accidents during the festive season, said the minister of Transport and Logistics.

On 27 November, the Mozambican president warned the police to take measures to curb road accidents, which he also associates with corruption within the force.

On the same occasion, the head of state of Mozambique pointed out that from January to September alone, 408 road accidents were recorded across the country, compared to 459 in 2024, causing 662 deaths, while in the same period in 2024 there were 555 fatalities, data that shows that road accidents cause "more victims" than malaria, which recorded 308 hospital deaths in 2024.

 

 

 

 

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