Maputo’s new managers waste no time

Alec Don . . . ‘We are going full steam ahead.’ Leonard Neill MAPUTO HARBOUR will take delivery of two tugs by May 14, ushering in a new era under the management of the Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC) which officially took over last week. MPDC chief executive Alec Don surprised many of the port stakeholders and users at a recent briefing when he announced the date of arrival of the tugs as well as a plan to commission the first of the new mobile cranes and forklifts within three months. “Many may have thought that it would take us time to get going, but we have been preparing to take over this concession to manage the port for the past three years,” he said. “We have the finance available. It was just a matter of getting the final go-ahead before it became accessible and now we are going full steam ahead.” Top priority is the erection of security fencing around the port after which the 500 staff employed by the previous harbour control will undergo special training courses. “We hope to have the workforce settled as soon as possible,” said Don. “Training will aim to improve productivity and introduce greater professionalism. We have to secure new volume commitments to justify the purchase of more new equipment. There has to be evidence as soon as possible of construction in the port and we are geared to move in that direction.” Harbour offices will be modified and road and rail repairs undertaken to expedite developments in the short term. There are also plans for dredging, new access roads, and improved rail services, but these are still on the drawing boards, says Don. “We want to see this port working at full steam by the end of the three-year target we have scheduled.”