‘Moz protests threatens normal trade with SA’

Riot over disputed election results intensifies

As Mozambicans take to the streets against recent presidential elections, there are concerns that should violence escalate it might affect trading between SA and Mozambique.

Economist Bonke Dumisa said the protests need to be contained urgently. 

"The protest will not necessarily impact trade for now. We receive a significant amount of LPG (liquid petroleum gas) from Mozambique. It’s transported from Mozambique to SA through underground pipelines. So far, we’ve not encountered any incidents where people interfered with these supplies, unlike what we saw in Angola during conflicts there. However, if protests escalates, we may see issues similar to what’s happening in Cabo Delgado (northern Mozambique), which is something we want to avoid in our supply system," said Dumisa.

Oil-rich Cabo Delgado had experienced insurgency by Isis in recent years. 

Late last month, Mozambicans started taking to the streets in protest against the election results which saw the ruling Frelimo extend its 49-year rule with a disputed 70.67% of the vote. Opposition Podemos party has since filed an appeal against the results with the Constitutional Council.

Early this week, protests moved to the Lebombo border with SA but on the side of Mozambique, when angry residents started targeting truck drivers by using their heavy vehicles to block the main road leading in the capital Maputo. By Tuesday, more than 25 trucks were stuck in the middle of the road as keys were taken from drivers.

We are close to R5bn in disruptions to cargo from SA moving through the Mozambique port.Gavin Kelly, CEO of the Road Freight Association

A fleet manager from a coal trucking company in Mpumalanga told Sowetan that he had to call locals that he knows to be rescued and escorted back to SA border Tuesday afternoon. 

"I had gone there to fetch one of our trucks whose driver was stuck after his keys where forcefully taken from him on Monday. The protestors said they were not happy with elections and wanted to shutdown their country's economy by blocking trucks. It was a bit calmer when I drove in this morning (Tuesday) but the violence and intimidation flared up again around 2pm, and that's when I had to call for help," said the manager who wanted to stay anonymous. 

He said on his way back to the SA border, there was about a 3km line of trucks that were stuck. "I had 4 tons of coals that I could not deliver to Mozambique and our business is going to suffer a lot if this violence persists," he said.  

Gavin Kelly, CEO of the Road Freight Association, said they had been informed by their counterparts in Mozambique that the situation might get worse in the coming days. 

"There is a strong possibility of severe escalations of protests on Thursday and Friday and into the weekend. There is the potential for far more violence...We have no data on how many trucks are stopped at the border. There is disruption mainly for cargo moving out of SA. We are close to R5bn in disruptions to cargo from SA moving through the Mozambique port," said Kelly.

According to Reinhardt Group divisional manager Werner van der Merwe, at least 25 trucks including six of their own were blocked. He said internet and cellphone communication was limited, leaving the drivers to rely on their two-way radios.

"This is bad for business and if the situation persists we will consider pulling our trucks from Mozambique and use the Richards Bay harbour to export our goods," said Van der Merwe.

The Border Management Authority (BMC) and the South African Revenue Service (SARS) said they were trying to assist trucks by implementing a stop-and-go approach to clear the congestion.

“Passengers and traders are requested to allocate additional travel time when planning routes through the Lebombo border until congestion in the Mozambique side is resolved,” said BMA commissioner Dr Michael Masiapato yesterday.

The Right2Protest movement, which is a coalition of civil societies, have called for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to intervene in Mozambique.

"The Right2Protest condemns the ongoing internet shutdown in Mozambique as an unjustifiable attack to democracy as a fundamental human rights. We call upon SADC and it's member states to recognise the urgency of the situation and immediately intervene in Mozambique. It is essential for SADC to restore a functioning tribunal and reinforce mechanism that safeguard fundamental freedoms across the region,"  said project coordinator Omhle Ntshingila.

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