The city and province of Maputo could adopt new opening hours for public services to ease the pressure on the transport system, improve traffic flow and increase commercial efficiency. The proposal, put forward by the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC), suggests staggering opening times for various sectors.
According to the MTC's plan, public services would operate from 8:30 to 16:30, while industry and construction would start at 7:30 and finish at 15:30. Schools and universities would open between 7:00 and 8:00. This staggering extends to other sectors, including health units, which would operate from 6:30 to 17:30, retail from 9:00 to 19:00, and large establishments such as hypermarkets and supermarkets, which would be open from 9:00 to 20:00.
The measure also applies to primary and secondary education, with hours adjusted in line with the private sector, ensuring that educational institutions and health units operate efficiently. The Organisation of Mozambican Workers (OTM) welcomed the proposal, with its executive secretary, Joaquim Chacate, highlighting the importance of the initiative in reducing travel time and improving workers' quality of life.
The aim of implementing the staggering is to ease congestion on the roads, mainly in the mornings, reducing traffic jams and drivers' stress. A study carried out by the proponent showed that, over the past ten years, the number of vehicles in the Greater Maputo Metropolitan Area has increased significantly, making this measure essential for the well-being of the population.
