Mozambique: South Africa Covid-19 border closure affects hinterland transport

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Mozambique: South Africa Covid-19 border closure affects hinterland transport

3:53 CAT | 13 Jan 2021

FILE PHOTO - Lebombo border in South Africa, opposite Ressano Garcia

Mozambique’s minister of transport and communications, Janfar Abdulai, said on Wednesday that South Africa’s decision to partially close the borders with neighbouring countries was “serious” for the country’s economy due to the worsening of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The measure will “have very serious consequences in terms of revenue collection for the economy”, Abdulai said in a statement to the public broadcaster Radio Mozambique.

Abdulai noted that the rail-port system in southern Mozambique depends on cargo coming from or in transit to South Africa and the partial closure of the borders between the two countries will lead to a reduction in traffic.

“This paralysis, in a way, will affect what is the normal functioning of this system and the consequent reduction of the cargo that feeds our ports,” he stressed.

The South African authorities decided to partially close the borders with neighbouring countries from 12 January to 15 February, due to the resurgence of the Covid-19 pandemic in southern Africa.

The measure means only the entry or exit of goods, patients for urgent medical care, the return of citizens of the country, permanent residents or others with valid visas, diplomats and foreign students are allowed.

Source: Lusa