Waste pickers set fire to truck and excavator at Hulene landfill after police operation

A solid waste truck, loaned by the Municipality of Chimoio to the Maputo Municipal Council, and an excavator were set on fire this Tuesday by a group of waste pickers at the Hulene landfill. The vandalism occurred after a joint operation by the Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM) and the Municipal Police, which resulted in the arrest of individuals suspected of criminal activities, such as vehicle theft and extortion of motorists, on Avenida Julius Nyerere. In response, the waste pickers surrounded the equipment, removed the operators, and set them on fire.

 The situation occurs amid growing instability in the area, where residents of the Hulene "B" neighborhood had already filed a petition denouncing acts of disorder and vandalism allegedly led by an individual identified as Venâncio Marrengula. According to residents, this self-proclaimed "garbage dump leader" has been promoting actions that undermine public order. Municipal authorities condemned the acts and promised to reinforce security in the area, ensuring that those responsible will be held accountable.