In 2012 in Maputo, 80% of people-travel went by public transport—mostly by private chapas and midibuses, and in 2035 it will still be 61% to 70% (Municipal Council of Maputo 2014a:43). In addition to the traffic congestion problems caused mainly by the high and growing number of cars and chapas in Maputo and Matola, the maintenance of many chapas is inadequate and dangerous and drivers make dangerous and sometimes deadly maneuvers while it is nearly impossible to report effectively these and the other abuses of hatmakers. Corruption of municipal and fiscal police, extreme overcrowding of chapas, shortening of routes, and personal and financial abuse by collectors and drivers, including discriminatory rejection of certain passengers (eg, elderly) and insistence on payment, also prevails. double (the “connection” value above the normal journey) to guarantee a seat especially during peak hours.
Anyone who travels in chapas knows the situation in the flesh. Although, for the most part, the categories of problems are known, their frequency and diversity have not been investigated. There is also a lack of an in-depth analysis of viable measures to reduce or eliminate excesses.
