In a proactive response to the ongoing unrest following Mozambique's recent elections, South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, confirmed a commitment to bolstering diplomatic channels with neighbouring Mozambique.
The agreement aims to minimise disruptions to trade and supply chains exacerbated by civil unrest in the region.
The turmoil in Mozambique, ignited by the elections held on October9, escalated after ruling Frelimo party candidate Daniel Chapo was declared the winner with over 71% of the vote.
Demonstrations erupted at the end of October in the capital, Maputo, with protesters contesting the election results that further entrenched Frelimo's 49-year hold on power. As protests intensified, border operations were temporarily suspended, hindering trade flow between the two nations and impacting livelihoods.
During a joint media briefing held on Wednesday morning in Mpumalanga, Lamola and his Mozambican counterpart, Pascoal Ronda, discussed strategies to address the ongoing disruptions primarily affecting the Lebombo and Ressano Garcia border posts.
“This important meeting between friendly and fraternal neighbouring countries is reflective of the very good levels of bilateral cooperation between our two countries,” stated Lamola, emphasising the constructive dialogue that underscored the meeting.
The Ministers outlined a collaborative approach to tackling the challenges posed by the current unrest. They agreed to enhance mechanisms for continuous diplomatic engagement aimed at mitigating trade and supply chain interruptions. The discussions also highlighted the importance of identifying alternative transport routes and deploying additional resources to facilitate trade.
“We will work closely with all stakeholders, particularly within the business community, to limit the impact of these disruptions on their operations,” Lamola added.
Notably, amid the civil unrest, the Border Management Authority (BMA) reported that the Lebombo port of entry has been managing holiday traffic efficiently, with cargo processing on both arrival and departure proceeding without hitches.
The BMA reassured the public that traveller movements are also flowing seamlessly, reflecting the authority’s preparedness for the peak holiday season.
Both Lamola and Ronda underscored their dedication to safeguarding the infrastructure necessary for trade facilitation, as both nations strive to maintain economic stability and cooperation despite the prevailing socio-political challenges in Mozambique and committed to protecting and securing infrastructure for trade facilitation.
They continue to collaborate to ensure minimal disruption for regional integration, including associated cross-border value chains.
The leaders emphasised that these disruptions have negatively affected the economies of both countries and hindered the free movement of people and goods between them.
This week, a report by Reuters indicated that Mozambique's 2024 economic growth is likely to be revised down from a previous forecast of 4.3% due to post-election civil unrest and the impact of Cyclone Chido, a senior International Monetary Fund (IMF) official said.
This comes as the country’s Constitutional Council is expected to rule on the validity of the election count on Dec. 23, an outcome civil society organisations and analysts fear may trigger more violence and economic disruption if Frelimo's victory is upheld.
“Growth went from 4.5% in the second quarter to 3.7% in the third quarter, before the protests started,” Olamide Harrison, the IMF’s Mozambique resident representative, told Reuters.
Saturday Star