Leaving Maputo on Sunday, I made a left turn into Avenida de 25 Septembro, a main thoroughfare which seems to becoming a hot spot for these incidents. The two cops were regular police in the green and grey uniform (traffic police wear white shirts/blue trousers) and both were armed with AK47s slung over the shoulder, calculated, perhaps, to be at head-height of the driver of a normal car.
I was told a left turn was illegal, even though a constant stream of Mozambique-registered vehicles were making left turns. Pointing out this inconsistency does no good - I was told that I had committed an offence and that the necessary “apology” would cost 1000 meticals (abrout R320).
This is how to deal with the scam. Stand your ground and a) demand that a ticket is issued on paper, or b) ask the police to accompany you to the nearest police station.
Be patient because this Kafkaesque scenario will take time to unfold. Under no circumstances get angry or pushy, and do not swear at or insult the police - you do not want to irritate them in any way. Make a joke, light up a smoke (if you have one) and make it clear that you are in no hurry.
Whatever else, do NOT pay the bribe. It only entrenches corrupt practice and makes it worse for all visitors who follow.
In my case they let me go after a couple of minutes when it was clear that I was not going to pay them a cent. That the same two cops flagged me down on the same road 15 minutes later for another “offence” and then let me go as soon as they recognised me, says it all.
If you are driving in Mozambique, pay scrupulous attention to the road rules, stick to the speed limit and ensure the vehicle’s papers are in order. Make sure you have the blue and yellow warning stickers, and the ZA sticker well-displayed, have valid third party insurance, and keep two red warning triangles handy.
By Paul Ash
4 comments:
That's indeed true ... I had a work coleague going to Mozambique on holidays and experienced a similar issue ... the shame is that a ceded to their pressure and paid the bribe, which only perpetuates such incidents ...
If Mozambique has true intentions of become a top world touristic destination it has to resolve the issue of corruption in the traffic unit ... its a shame and only results in a decrease in the flow of foreign tourist willing to have a good time in our shores and ultimately increase our reserves of foreign currency
I hear these stories on a daily basis, it is unnaceptable this level of corruption as this gives the country a very bad name.
Surely, we can not be a top tourist destination if we do not stop this kind of harassement.
Kind regards!
There is no excuse for this kind of things still happening in Mozambique, but it also happens in other African countries. It should be sorted out urgently,as it gives the country a very bad name. I have heard some people saying that they would not go back to Mozambique, as they have been through this 'corruption scheme' and had to pay a bribe just to make sure that they would get their cars and licences back. Maria Helena
I am sick and tired of hearing these stories, something must be done about it, it is unnaceptable that corrupts give a very bad reputation to the country.
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