Following the elections in Mozambique, South Africa is reportedly facing daily economic losses of up to R10 million due to disrupted trade, as stated by the Road Freight Association (RFA).

Gavin Kelly, the association’s CEO, has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to take action and help restore order amid the ongoing unrest.

“What we need is a true Statesman who can communicate to Mozambique the suffering our nation is enduring – and who can foster a consensus on a way forward – ensuring that the route to the Port of Maputo remains safe. This must be prioritized at all costs and by any necessary means,” Kelly emphasized.

“Our drivers, trucks, and the cargo of our customers are constantly at risk, as is the reputation of numerous African businesses.”

“Drivers are facing violence (despite not being involved in Mozambique’s political issues), trucks are subject to theft and arson, access to the Port of Maputo is blocked, and even the Port itself is essentially under siege.”

The leader of the opposition in Mozambique, Venâncio Mondlane, has disputed the outcome of the October elections in which Frelimo’s candidate, Daniel Chapo, achieved a substantial majority of 71%. The electoral commission has dismissed claims of electoral fraud, although international observers have reported flaws and irregularities in the vote counting.

Currently in hiding, Mondlane told the BBC that protests should continue until Frelimo agrees to negotiate.

“Almost 70 people have died as a result of post-election violence, drawing international condemnation.”

The South African government congratulated Frelimo on its election victory under Chapo’s leadership, noting that he is the first Frelimo leader born after the nation gained independence.

Read: The background to Mozambique’s deadly protests

In a letter, the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference expressed disappointment over the South African government’s endorsement of the election results, stating: “It will be difficult to continue suppressing the will of those who seek freedom. If the current government persists on this path, governing will become impossible, leading to greater suffering.”

Emphasizing rail improvements instead

While the Road Freight Association seeks intervention from Ramaphosa for stability, there are apprehensions that South Africa might become involved in foreign conflicts that could drain resources and be hard to resolve.

“Our primary focus should be on enhancing our railway systems within our borders,” asserts Jan Havenga, a logistics professor at Stellenbosch University. “It is clear that trucks traveling from South Africa into Mozambique encounter major challenges. The border was closed for several days recently, resulting in traffic jams stretching up to 20 kilometers.”

“The solution lies in improving our rail networks and ports, as a single train can carry the equivalent of 30 to 40 trucks transporting goods by road.”

Instability in Mozambique has long been a concern, according to a transport expert. “In contrast, observe the peaceful transitions in Namibia and Botswana to better understand the situation. That risk has always been a factor in the Maputo trucking situation.”

Havenga further mentioned that the recent disruptions to road transport into the Port of Maputo might reignite interest in the long-speculated Trans-Kalahari Rail Corridor, which would connect Gaborone in Botswana to Walvis Bay in Namibia, possibly reducing shipping times from Southern Africa to Europe by five days.

Read:
Crumbling SA rail prompts Botswana to forge new route
Scramble for critical minerals spurs an African rail revival

Kelly warns that Mozambique could descend into civil war, reminiscent of the devastation of the 1970s.

“Do we want to return to that? Certainly not. However, without the intervention of a true Statesman (or Woman), that scenario could become a grim reality, leading to escalated violence and warfare among various factions, which would destabilize the country even further.

“Such instability could halt all forms of goods, commodities, and tourism entering and moving through the country,” Kelly concluded.

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