Mozambique: Authorities mull 1 monthly flight from SA to Filipe Nyusi and Vilankulo airports - RM
FILE - Forbes Border/Machipanda is one of the oldest border posts in Zimbabwe, dating from the 1890s when the route to then small landing point on the Pungwe estuary at “Fort Beira”. [File photo: Miramar]
The Machipanda border post, between the Mozambican province of Manica and Zimbabwe, started operating 24 hours a day this week to respond to the increase in heavy goods traffic at Porto da Beira, an official source announced today.
“We need to put it into context that Porto da Beira [in Sofala province] operates 24 hours a day. So the Machipanda post was missing to be able to do this correspondence because the lorries were being released and were accumulating here in the middle, between the Porto and the [border] post,” said Abílio Mathe, spokesman for the Manica provincial migration directorate, in central Mozambique, quoted by Rádio Moçambique.
The measure has been in force since Monday, the migration spokesman added.
According to the official, the continuous movement between Mozambique and Zimbabwe, through the centre of the country, has forced the authorities of both states to increase border staff to meet demand.
Regardless of when the trucks leave the Port of Beira, “there is the possibility of making the crossing, this is a major gain at all levels,” said Abílio Mathe.
WATCH: Smooth opening of Forbes Border Post 24-hour running
THE 24 hours opening of Forbes Border Post commenced yesterday with no major glitches being reported.
📹 Tinai Nyadzayo pic.twitter.com/fbevuCWvmq
— The Manica Post (@ManicaPostZim) January 16, 2024
According to the migration spokesman in Manica, until Sunday the Machipanda border was open between 06:00 and 22:00, which restricted the crossing of lorries, most of which were transporting goods, creating huge queues in the region and in Zimbabwe.
As well as Machipanda, the Ressano Garcia border, the main one between Mozambique and South Africa, has also been operating 24 hours a day since 2022.
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