The number of Southern African Development Community (SADC) lorries crossing Mozambique’s borders carrying various goods has dropped considerably due to the negative impact of the post-election demonstrations that took place mainly between October and December last year.
From the start of the events until 15 December, the number of cargo trucks using the domestic corridors fell from 38,000 to less than 10,000 per month, according to Eduardo Sengo, executive director of the Confederation of Economic Associations of Mozambique (CTA).
The country is an important corridor for the hinterland territories (without direct access to the sea), which can be seen in the fact that 70 per cent of goods destined for the SADC pass through the national territory.
The official says that the reduction in lorry traffic has represented a financial loss for several countries, such as South Africa, which has suffered huge losses in its exports. Consequently, the fall in regional trade will have a direct impact on Mozambique, in addition to other direct damage resulting from looting and vandalisation of businesses.
‘The fall in this regional trade will have a major impact on families, given that 31 per cent of trade between Mozambique and South Africa is informal, based on families that depend on this activity for their survival. These families will find it difficult to fulfil their basic needs,’ he argued.
During the demonstrations, the border at Ressano Garcia was sometimes restricted due to roadblocks on the National Road Number Four (N4), and lorries were looted by the demonstrators, especially at kilometre four, on the Maputo Corridor, which prevented their safe movement.
Ressano Garcia is the largest land border between Mozambique and South Africa, with great significance in socio-economic relations between the two states.
