Residents of a neighborhood in Matola block a road in protest against degradation caused by trucks

Residents of the Nkobe neighborhood in the city of Matola blocked a secondary road used by large trucks on Monday. The protest comes in response to the accelerated degradation of the road, caused by the intense and continuous traffic of heavy vehicles, which has severely damaged the local infrastructure.

According to residents, the road has constant burst water pipes, large potholes, and flooded areas—problems that worsen during the rainy season and compromise the mobility of light vehicles and pedestrians. "We can no longer pass, small cars get stuck, and even walking has become dangerous," lamented one resident.

The population reports that they tried to resolve the situation through dialogue with the truck drivers, suggesting simple measures such as placing inert materials (sand and stone) to mitigate the damage. With no response, they decided to erect barriers with logs and tires, completely blocking the passage of heavy vehicles.

Contacted by the press, the National Roads Administration (ANE) acknowledged being the entity responsible for the road's maintenance, but cited budgetary limitations preventing intervention. The ANE also highlighted that many truck drivers use the road as an alternative to avoid tolls, exacerbating its wear and tear without contributing to its upkeep.

As long as the road remains impassable and there is no concrete response from the authorities or transport companies, residents will maintain the blockade. The community demands urgent measures to rehabilitate the road and prevent further damage, appealing for coordinated action between the local government, the National Roads Authority (ANE), and heavy transport operators.