Maputo, Mozambique, 18 July – The Chinese government has provided a gift of 72 new buses to Maputo public transport company TPM, a donation worth 30 million yuan (around US$4.6 million), Mozambican news agency AIM reported Thursday.

The decision by the Chinese government to provide gifts of diesel-driven buses, of the Yutong brand, according to AIM helps Mozambique to minimise its problem of a lack of passenger transport.

Speaking during the ceremony for the hand over of the buses, Mozambique’s prime minister, Aires Ali, said there was an agreement to send spare parts and added that China had also committed to setting up a workshop and send technicians to Mozambique for train up TPM staff to maintain the buses.

In his turn, the Chinese ambassador to Mozambique, Huang Songfu, noted the social and economic progress made by Mozambique in the last few years and gave assurances that his country planned to continue helping Mozambique in its fight against poverty.

AIM also said that TPM had capacity to transport just 10 percent of passengers, which are currently estimated to total 900,000 per day, although this situation could improve on account of some recent investments. (macauhub)