Currently, control of truck load in Mozambican roads is made through a handful of existing weighbridges, or bascules.
These, however, are in limited numbers, and are yet to be installed in all the strategic points across the country.
The inefficiency of this control system is worsened by the lack of mandate of ANE's officers, to stop and check any vehicle suspected to be overloaded. Thus, for any suspect case they are forced to rely on the traffic police.
On the other hand, cargo operators tend to avoid the roads fitted with weighbridges, by using alternative routes.
According to Siquela, there is a need to find means to endow ANE's officers with a mandate to directly intervene in the context of load checks.
"We have to find means to ampower ANE with a mandate, because, currently, we are forced to rely on the traffic police, who are not always available to assist us because they are busy on other duties", said Siquela.
For Siquela, the issue of load inspection doesn't necessarily depended on increasing the number of available weighbridges across the country, as their management is the key to the whole issue.
In Mozambique, weighbridges can be found at the southern provinces of Maputo, gaza and inhambane, at the Matola Rio, and Michafutene, Macie town, and Inharrime, respectively.
Siquela claims that the establishment of an institution in charge of the issue of load inspection is the most appropriate solution for the problem of overload trucks in Mozambican roads.
"We are the National Roads Administration, and supposedly the national roads authority. We don't have the tools that allow us to stop and check any vehicle. I believe that the revival of the Road Police would be the best solution", stressed Siquela.
He also said that relauching the Road Police would accommodate the interests of the transport and communication sectors, such as ANE, National Traffic Institute (INAV), as well as the operators of cargo transport, the private sector and the users of the Mozambican roads.
According to Siquela, the Road Police should fall under the umbrella of the Mozambican Police General Command.
Siquela was speaking to AIM last week during an official visit to some of the infrastructures in the Maputo province. On the occasion, he also said that ANE is currently discussing this initiative with the main stakeholders.
"Once completed, the project will be submitted to the Interior Ministry for its approval and implementation", explained Siquela.
This problem arises because overload is one of the main causes for the degradation of the Mozambique's road system.
SOURCE: AIM
