Vehicle Inspection System Faces Collapse Following Mondlane’s Decree
Vehicle inspection services in Mozambique are facing a severe crisis after a decree by former presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane suspended mandatory periodic vehicle inspections. Mondlane justified the suspension by arguing that the country's poor road infrastructure makes the requirement both impractical and unjustifiable.
Since the decree, drivers have largely boycotted inspection services, leading to a significant drop in demand. The impact on inspection operators has been profound, with revenues plummeting and daily operations grinding to a halt.
Tinga Petane, coordinator at Control Gold, an inspection concessionaire operating in Zimpeto and Txumene, told TORRE.News that the number of vehicles inspected daily has fallen from 400 to around 100. “People are no longer showing up. We only receive newly imported cars, vehicles seeking transport permits, or insurance renewals,” Petane said, highlighting the financial strain caused by the decree.
Mondlane’s decree argues that requiring vehicle inspections while roads remain in poor condition is inconsistent and burdensome. It also points out that customs duties on vehicles and parts already impose a significant financial strain on car owners.
The suspension is set to remain in place until the government achieves significant improvements in road conditions and provides alternative routes, shifting the onus onto authorities to ensure suitable infrastructure before reinstating mandatory inspections. This development underscores the broader challenges facing Mozambique’s road transport sector, where inadequate infrastructure continues to weigh heavily on both economic activities and public compliance with regulatory standards.
