The South African authorities reported that the Lebombo border post, located on the South African side of the border to Mozambique, was partially closed on Wednesday 27 November due to the wave of protests that have been taking place in the country for over a month.
The South African Border Management Authority, quoted by Rádio Moçambique, revealed that due to this situation, cargo lorries are facing difficulties in gaining access to the port of Maputo and the Ressano Garcia border.
The authority emphasised that minimum services are being carried out in order to guarantee the passage of light vehicles and some pedestrians.
Mozambique is going through a period of post-election tension, marked by general demonstrations called by the presidential candidate of the Optimistic People for the Development of Mozambique (Podemos) party, Venâncio Mondlane, in protest at the results of the 9 October general elections. Civil society pointed out that the current scenario is caused by the socio-economic problems affecting thousands of Mozambicans.
Last week, the Public Prosecutor’s Office (MP) issued a document demanding compensation of 501,000 dollars (32.3 million meticals) for the damage caused by the general demonstrations that have taken place in recent weeks. The civil action was brought against Venâncio Mondlane and Podemos, the party that supports him.
The Attorney General’s Office said at the time that the lawsuit was filed by the representative of the Public Prosecutor’s Office at the Maputo City Court, but others of this kind are expected in the other provinces.
‘Despite warnings and summonses issued by the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the co-defendants [Venâncio Mondlane and Albino Forquilha, president of Podemos] continued to call for mass participation by citizens in the protests, inciting them to fury and paralysing all activities in the country,’ the report said.
