Persons unknown have been destroying Mozambique's main north-south highway along the stretch between the administrative post of Muxungue, in the central province of Sofala, and the Save river, to remove stones for house building.
This stretch of road, running for about 100 kilometres, had been completely rehabilitated two years ago.
People who want to build houses and informal stalls for petty trade, are treating the road as a free resources. They have dug up sand and stones from the road. leaving it in a dangerous condition.
All that is left of this stretch of road is one dangerous lane, rather than the two safe ones it had immediately after the rehabilitation.
Besides destroying the road, the thieves also remove road signs, for unknown purposes.
Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano had urged local residents, on the reinauguration of the rehabilitated road, to keep it in good shape.
The Sofala provincial director of Public Works and Housing Cristovao Forquia, cited in Wednesday's issue of the daily paper "Noticias", expressed anger at the vandalism.
He stressed that the government has gone to a great deal of effort and expense to build and repair roads - while some people are busy destroying them.
"Unfortunately, a small group of individuals of bad faith ignore these efforts and destroy a road that they will end up needing themselves", he said.
He added that his institution will intensify awareness campaigns in the community, through the traditional authorities, to check this practice.
"To rehabilitate and rebuild roads and put up road signs costs a lot of money. Let us strive to make the community aware of this", said Forquia.
He also called for a redoubling of vigilance in the local communities and urged people to denounce to the authorities anyone found to be destroying the road.
Fonte: AIM
