Fuel crisis and the price of motorcycle taxis in Nampula: understanding to overcome it

Élio Zita"

Nampula is going through difficult times. For weeks, many gas stations have had little fuel, and this is affecting all of us. Those who feel it most on a daily basis are our brothers who work as motorcycle taxi drivers and the passengers. A ride that used to cost 50MT has gone up to 100MT, 150MT in some areas. It's normal for the population to complain; the money is no longer enough. And it's also normal for the taxi driver to raise the price, because their fuel has also become much more expensive. The truth is simple. The liter that used to be readily available at gas stations is now often only found on the informal market, at a price two or three times higher.High. The taxi driver who used to fill his tank with 400MT now needs 800MT or 1000MT to do the same job. If he keeps the old price, he won't be able to put food on the table. It's not a matter of greed. It's a matter of survival for both sides. The passenger struggles to survive on a salary that hasn't increased. The motorcyclist struggles to...surviving with the cost that has doubled. Nobody wins in this situation. The taxi driver spends hours in line instead of working, the passenger is late for work, and business at the market becomes more expensive. What we need now is mutual understanding. The passenger needs to understand thatThe price increase isn't due to ill will on the part of the driver. The driver understands that passengers are also facing difficulties, so they explain the reason for the new price respectfully and negotiate when possible. Beyond the pump: when the city depends on two wheels To understand Nampula, you need to understand the motorbike. Our city has grown and spread out. The transport that connects the Namicopo neighborhood to the center, from Muhala to Carrupeia, from Nampaco to the Central Hospital, is mostly the motorbike taxi. It is estimated that thousands of young people support their families directly from this.They work. They're not business owners. They're our parents, children, our neighbors who rent a motorbike for 300 MT a day or pay installments on a motorbike that cost more than 40,000 MT. Their profit isn't the fare. It's what's left after paying for fuel, the motorbike owner, oil, and breakfast. When there's a fuel crisis, this whole chain breaks down. The young man wakes up at 4 am, goes to the queue. He waits for 5 hours. Sometimes he comes back empty-handed. That day he didn't work, but the motorcycle payment is still due. The child still needs to eat. That's when...The situation escalates to the informal market, where a liter can cost 250 or 300 MT. People buy it not because they want to, but because stopping means having nothing left. On the other side, there's the woman who sells charcoal at the Waresta market. She used to pay 60 MT for the round trip. Now she needs 200 MT just for transportation. If the price of charcoal goes up, she won't sell anything. If it doesn't go up, she'll lose money. The UniLúrio student who lives in Namiepe, the nurse who has to work the night shift, the construction worker who has to be at the site at 6 am – they're all having to make new calculations every day. That's why I say: when the tank runs dry, the whole city feels it. It's not a transportation problem. It's a problem of the local economy, of access to education, healthcare, and food. What can we do while we wait for things to return to normal? We are all waiting for the supply to normalize. This information and solution come from the competent authorities, and we believe they are working towards it. Until that happens, what will determine whether this crisis separates or unites us is our attitude towards each other. I propose three simple actions, which I already see in many neighborhoods and which we should spread: 1. Transparency and dialogue in the race. The passenger has the right to ask the price before getting on. The motorcycle taxi driver has a duty to tell the truth: "Brother, I'm buying it for 250MT on the street, that's why I'm charging that price.""100MT". When there's an explanation, there's less anger. 2. Neighborhood solidarity. Instead of getting a different motorbikeEvery day, and always discussing prices, many have already made arrangements with one or two trusted motorcycle taxi drivers in the neighborhood. They create a kind of weekly "agreement." This gives the driver security, knowing they have customers, and allows for a fairer price for the passenger. 3. Let's avoid speculation among ourselves. There are those who aren't taxi drivers, but they take advantage of the situation to buy fuel and resell it at even higher prices. This attitude harms everyone. If everyone buys only what they need and lets others buy as well, the line moves faster. It's a difficult time, but Nampula has overcome difficult times before. We are a city of hardworking people who wake up early and help each other. We've been through floods, cyclones, and other hardships. We've always overcome them because we understand each other. The price of the ride will return to normal when the fuel price returns to normal. Until then, may the price of our solidarity not increase. Let us lack gasoline if we have to, but let us not lack respect for one another. Hibinya NayiaKona!

2025/12/3