Maputo, June 16, 2026 (Lusa) - The authorities in Mozambique have disbursed €1.4 million in compensation to transport operators in the Maputo metropolitan area to mitigate the rise in fuel prices, according to data from the Maputo Metropolitan Transport Agency (AMT).
The sum of 110.2 million meticais (€1.4 million) corresponds to compensation awarded to various categories of semi-collective passenger transport in May, as part of measures to support transport operators following the rise in fuel prices linked to the war in the Middle East, according to AMT data accessed by Lusa on Tuesday.
The government adopted this measure following the 45.5% increase in the price of diesel and the 12.1% increase in the price of petrol on 7 May, to prevent an increase in the fares charged to transport passengers, particularly those using ‘chapas’.
According to the AMT document, 1,467 fifteen-seater vehicles received 52.7 million meticais (€711,000), whilst 731 vehicles with a capacity of 26-35 seats received payments totalling almost 40 million meticais (€539,200). Eight vehicles in the 31 to 60-seater category and 40 vehicles in the 36 to 65-seater category received compensation payments totalling 2.2 million meticais (30,400 euros).
The Ministry of Transport announced on 8 May that it would subsidise transport by up to 141,000 meticais (€1,874) to prevent fare increases and minimise the social impact of rising fuel prices.
“As part of the government’s efforts to minimise the social impact resulting from rising fuel prices, the government has decided to subsidise passenger transport,” said Chinguane Mabote, Secretary of State for Transport and Logistics, during a press conference in Maputo.
The subsidy, amounting to approximately 35,470 meticais (€471) for minibuses and 141,000 meticais (€1,874) for coaches and articulated buses, covers licensed transport operators in provincial capitals and the Maputo metropolitan area in the initial phase, as agreed by the Ministry of Transport and Logistics and the Mozambican Federation of Road Transport Associations (Fematro).
On 13 May, Maputo City Council announced that it would fund professional driving licences for around 2,500 semi-collective transport operators operating without proper authorisation, commonly known as ‘chapas’, to speed up the licensing process and strengthen public transport in the face of rising fuel prices.
“This is a measure aimed at addressing urban mobility challenges, improving the quality of service provided to residents and ensuring greater safety and convenience will be provided for all public transport users,” said Rasaque Manhique, Mayor of Maputo, at the time.
The initiative covers operators already enrolled in the regularisation process and provides for the local authority to cover the costs associated with training to obtain public service driving licences, which are required for the licensing of the activity.
‘The Maputo Municipal Council will cover the costs for these transport operators who are already registered, so that they can obtain a driving licence, which is also a condition for licensing, and so that they can hold a professional driving licence,’ he stated.
The measure forms part of the local authority's plan to regularise the operations of semi-collective passenger transport, known locally as ‘chapas’, amid rising operating costs and difficulties in urban mobility in the Mozambican capital.
In April and May, Mozambique faced difficulties with fuel supply, with petrol stations across the country closed and widespread queues, as well as limits on the purchase of diesel or petrol and reduced transport services, following the conflict in the Middle East.
LCE/ADB // ADB.
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