Malfunction in "Chapa" triggers multiple collision on Avenida 24 de Julho

A serious accident involving a semi-collective passenger transport vehicle, commonly known as a "chapa," and four other vehicles occurred on Monday morning, January 5th, on the busy Avenida 24 de Julho in Maputo. The accident resulted in one serious injury and caused significant material damage.

According to witnesses, the driver of the "chapa" (minibus), which was traveling without passengers, lost control of the vehicle due to a brake malfunction. The vehicle, now out of control, crashed into the rear of a passenger car, triggering a chain collision with three other vehicles, despite not traveling at high speed.

At the scene, the driver was found lying on the ground in serious condition and called for help. He was subsequently assisted and evacuated by an emergency medical team to a hospital. So far, there are no reports of other serious injuries, although some drivers suffered minor injuries and showed signs of shock.

Traffic police arrived immediately to control traffic – which was disrupted for about an hour – and to begin the investigation. Authorities stated that they will investigate the technical condition of the vehicle involved in the accident, as well as the potential liability of the driver.

This incident has reignited calls from residents and businesses in the area for stricter controls on the maintenance of semi-collective transport vehicles, which frequently operate in poor technical condition, endangering the lives of passengers and pedestrians.