Some of the most interesting comments we have received on our blogs come after we write something about our car adventures. This entry is for my guy friends!
For quite some time now there has been talk here about vehicle inspections. We've been pulled over and hassled about silly things by the police as I've written before, while cars without front windshields, fenders, and wheels tilted out so far you wonder how they are turning would pass by. 
There have been many accidents from vehicle failures, so the government decided to impose vehicle inspections. Somehow in a developing country, this just seems a bit strange, or an interesting priority, but many of us foreigners here have been really skeptical about how could this possibly be a good thing - for heaven's sake, I went through this in Pennslyvania where you would have to have to fix things that you knew were fine because that was the only way you could get an inspection sticker. So, translated to here with the corruption issues, oh my. And, they have a catch that if your car has enough problems, they will confisgate it on the spot (now that gives you a high level of confidence going in! - hey Joao, what kind of car would you like to confisgate today?).
There have been many accidents from vehicle failures, so the government decided to impose vehicle inspections. Somehow in a developing country, this just seems a bit strange, or an interesting priority, but many of us foreigners here have been really skeptical about how could this possibly be a good thing - for heaven's sake, I went through this in Pennslyvania where you would have to have to fix things that you knew were fine because that was the only way you could get an inspection sticker. So, translated to here with the corruption issues, oh my. And, they have a catch that if your car has enough problems, they will confisgate it on the spot (now that gives you a high level of confidence going in! - hey Joao, what kind of car would you like to confisgate today?).They have two of these brand-new inspection stations in Maputo and one in each of the other provinces and we all have six months to get our inspections done. The openings have been delayed a number of times but Monday they opened for business. Ann and I decided to pass by one while we were 
out today and there were almost no cars there, so we stopped in to ask about the process. We ended up going through the inspection, and you know, it went well. Our vehicle is old - a 1998 with 250,000 km on it, but at the moment it is doing well other than a fluctuating oil pressure gage I can't figure out - (I brought one from the states as the old one absolutely died - shorted out when Toyota was fixing the starter - another story!).
out today and there were almost no cars there, so we stopped in to ask about the process. We ended up going through the inspection, and you know, it went well. Our vehicle is old - a 1998 with 250,000 km on it, but at the moment it is doing well other than a fluctuating oil pressure gage I can't figure out - (I brought one from the states as the old one absolutely died - shorted out when Toyota was fixing the starter - another story!).Anyway, it was all machine done - some sort of emission test (on a diesel!), and then you park each axle on this shaker thing that shakes your entire car and test the shocks / suspension, then they take your car to speed one axel at a time on these rollers and they panic stop the car to make sure the brakes and emergency brake works. We're talking a serious jarring of the car - it jumps off the rollers when you do the panic stop. Then, an underneath inspection, lights, turn signals, tire tread. It took the lady at the check in longer to type the information into the system than the inspection itself. The guys who did the inspection were professional and nice, no bribes requested or hinted at - quite encouraging. We weren't there too long and I even had time to talk to the guys a little while who did the inspection. I would guess that 1/2 of the cars on the road will probably not pass the inspection if there really stick to it! Very good experience for us and since we passed, of course we're happy!
A number of us have been a bit fearful to even take our cars in because of all the corruption we face day-to-day with things like this, and this actually went pretty well. Of course, it will probably be crazy in a few months when the deadline is a bit closer! But, I was encouraged and called my friends to tell them not to be afraid - get it done early before the crowds! The Bible says fear involves torment (1jo4:18) and I was certainly expecting some torment - but not today!
So, my stickers are all up-to-date again. I'm thinking there is a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation guy or gal on retainer with the Mozambique government to even think up this! Or maybe the maker of the equipment is a really good salesperson!
Blessings.
Dave & Ann
"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who hears has not been made perfect in love." 1 John 4:18
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