Moz bans used tyre imports in road safety drive

MAPUTO - Importation of second-hand tyres is now banned in Mozambique, in an effort to improve road safety and cut down on surface abuse of roads and highways. Hand in hand with the rehabilitation and growth of Mozambique’s postwar road network this past decade, which has been viewed by the road freight transport industry in generally favourable terms, has come a large number of vehicles. The existence of unsafe, second-hand tyres is not new in the country, but a visit to the Maputo Province by FTW last week witnessed the widespread prevalence of bald tyres on cars and trucks. Concerns over this prompted the import ban, the Office of the National Director of Surface Transports told FTW. Licensed tyre retread companies will still be able to import tyres to rehabilitate and sell for the time being, but all other tyre imports are being cut off. The inexpensive foreign imports have also led to complaints from auto parts shops of unfair competition. Mozambique is taking seriously its commitment to improving the standards of its road infrastructure, by expanding the highway network and maintaining the current road system. While two thirds of a recently acquired World Bank Loan of US $100 million (R700m) will go to new highway construction, $30 million (R210m) has been earmarked for routine road maintenance. The money will be spent in the nine months from October to June 2008.