Mozambique and Malawi, neighboring countries in East Africa, are seeking solutions to facilitate the mobility of long-distance drivers along their common border. This initiative comes about due to the strategic importance of Mozambique for Malawi’s logistics, which depends on the ports of Beira, in Sofala, and Nacala, in Nampula, for its imports and exports.
Part of the goods destined for Malawi are transported by road to the port of Beira, but both countries are investing in the reconstruction of the Vila Nova da Fronteira branch line, which connects to the Sena railway. Work on this branch was completed in Mozambique last year and is now awaiting completion in Malawi.
Recently, Mozambique and Malawi began diplomatic talks to discuss ways of improving mobility for long-distance drivers along the border. These talks were prompted by an incident in which a Malawian truck driver was assaulted by Mozambican border guard agents at the Zóbuè border post in Tete. This incident generated concern and led four Malawian hauliers’ associations to ask the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to intercede with the Mozambican government to prevent future occurrences of this kind.
In a letter addressed to Malawi’s Ministry of Transport and Public Works, the hauliers’ associations called for an investigation into the incident and for severe measures to be taken against the agents involved. The Consul General of Malawi in Tete and the Consul General of Mozambique in Blantyre are involved in negotiations to resolve the problem amicably.
Despite this incident, diplomatic relations between Mozambique and Malawi remain solid. Both countries are committed to ensuring that the border between them is a safe and efficient place for trade and the movement of people.
