Trade between South Africa and Mozambique resumes as an uneasy calm return to Mozambique
Trade between South Africa and Mozambique is slowly returning to normal after the main border crossing was reopened over the weekend and activities in the port of Maputu were resumed.
Mozambique is experiencing violent demonstrations following the election results announced on 24 October, with the ruling party’s presidential candidate, Daniel Chapo, winning 71 per cent of the vote, extending the Frelimo party’s 49-year rule.
News reports indicate that the Border Management Authority (BMA) confirmed that the Lebombo border post between South Africa and Mozambique has been reopened.
On Thursday last week the BMA temporarily closed the border crossing into Mozambique following a wave of protests that broke out around Maputo.
With the deployment of the army to contain protesters on Friday, the border post has been reopened.
The post-election conflict in Mozambique, coupled with the closure of the Lebombo border post, has generated significant economic repercussions for South Africa.
“The closure of the Lebombo border post between South Africa and Mozambique, and the resultant disruption to cargo moving through the Maputo Port, has amounted to losses of approximately R5bn so far,” Gavin Kelly, CEO of the Road Freight Association, told media sources.
It is not sure whether the political impasse will be resolved soon and freight companies say they will wait and see what happens next. Last week saw a truck build-up on the South African side of the border as trucks destined for Maputo waited over a distance of 20 kilometers to reach the border.
