Malawi Freedom Network 
By Our Reporter
Police stations and criminal investigation facilities in Mozambique are increasingly resembling scrapyards, with hundreds of impounded and accident-damaged vehicles occupying valuable space for years—even decades.
The vehicles are parked at compounds belonging to the Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM) and the National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC). Some were seized during investigations involving alleged offences, while others were impounded after road accidents or in connection with criminal cases.
According to sources cited by Domingo, many of the cases involving the vehicles remain pending before the courts or public prosecutors’ offices.
The situation is not new and is reportedly well known to justice authorities. However, it is becoming an increasing concern for the PRM because the abandoned vehicles are consuming limited space at police facilities.
The areas occupied by the vehicles could instead be used for police operations, including the construction of additional infrastructure and accommodation for various services.
However, authorities cannot dispose of or relocate the vehicles until the relevant justice institutions authorise their removal.
Sources told Domingo that many of the vehicles have become completely unusable after remaining immobilised for prolonged periods. Some have reportedly been sitting inside police compounds for 10, 20 and even 30 years.
The newspaper found that there is little publicly available information about the progress of the legal proceedings connected to many of the vehicles, despite the space they continue to occupy.
During recent visits to several police facilities in Maputo province, including locations in Maputo city, Matola and Matola-Rio, Domingo observed the extent of the problem.
At the 18th PRM Police Station in Maputo city, the condition was described as particularly deplorable. Nearly 100 vehicles have reportedly been parked there for years on an area of about one hectare.
Some of the vehicles have been held since 2006 and have now spent roughly two decades inside the police compound. Their original makes and models are barely recognisable, while others are covered by grass and vegetation.
In some cases, trees have grown around or over the vehicles, with some even bearing fruit.
A similar situation has reportedly emerged elsewhere in Maputo province, including at the compound of a police post at Matola Provincial Hospital, where impounded vehicles continue to occupy valuable space.
The growing number of deteriorating vehicles highlights the challenges facing law enforcement and justice authorities in dealing with seized property and cases that remain unresolved for prolonged periods.
Without decisions from the courts or prosecutors authorising their removal or disposal, the vehicles are likely to remain where they are—continuing to occupy police space while gradually turning law-enforcement compounds into long-term scrapyards.
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