Home / News / The first bicycles and motorbikes of the project that promotes the use of bicycles and motorbikes where handed over
The first bicycles and motorbikes of the project that promotes the use of bicycles and motorbikes where handed over
The Ministry of Transport and Communications held on Thursday, March 4, at the premises of Banco Terra in Maputo, the official handover of the first bicycles and motorbikes requested by public employees, as part of the Project that Promotes the Use of Bicycles and Motorbikes as alternative means of transportation in Mozambique.
The symbolic ceremony, in which six bicycles and four motorbikes were handed over to an equal number of state employees, was headed by the Minister of Transport and Communications, Paulo Zucula, and the Commercial Director of Banco Terra, Kathryn Larcombe.
Still in the ceremony, the Minister said that the assets (bicycles and motorbikes) will make a difference in the lives of beneficiaries, as they will no longer depend on third parties and public transportation to travel. In turn, Kathryn Larcombe referred to the gains that the media will bring to state employees and revealed that "this project has already aroused the interest of some of our clients in the private sector, who asked Banco Terra to finance such means of transportation for their employees ".
Some members of the Government, relatives of the beneficiaries and the suppliers of bicycles and motorbikes, Pershop and Agrimotors witnessed the handover of the first means of transportation.
Exactly as what happened on the day of the official release - Dec. 4, 2009 – of this project promoting the use of Bicycles and Motorbikes as alternative means of transportation, on March 4 state employees were unanimous in saying that the project brings significant improvement for their lives. For example, Carlos Nguene, a Police Officer of Republic of Mozambique (PRM) residing in the neighbourhood "Nkobe," said he used to wake up at 4.00 hours but he started his job at 7.30 hours. Often, nevertheless, he arrived late due to transportation problems, but now with this motorbike this problem will have to be overcome.
The Project Promoting the use of Bicycles and Motorbikes as alternative means of transportation in Mozambique is a partnership between the Ministry of Transport and Communications and Banco Terra, and emerges as part of the Government's efforts to eradicate the problem of bad road conditions, to improve the circulation of people and minimise transportation costs in Mozambique.
During the four years that the project goes on, Banco Terra, as the financial agent, will make it easier for state employees to purchase a simple bike and electric motor and motorbike up to 125cc.
Maputo, March 8, 2010.