Post-electoral: Eight thousand mineworkers cancel visits to Mozambique fearing violent protests

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Post-electoral: Eight thousand mineworkers cancel visits to Mozambique fearing violent protests

9:42 CAT | 02 Jan 2025

File photo: Noticias

Eight thousand of the 12,000 Mozambican mine and farm workers employed in South Africa have opted to cancel their trips home for the festive season to spend time with family and friends.

According to Boaventura Manhique, a representative of the Ministry of Labour in South Africa, this decision is linked to the current situation in Mozambique, marked by violent protests led by presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane.

“Because of this, some workers chose to stay in South Africa during the festivities, fearing difficulties in returning to their workplaces after travelling to Mozambique. Hence, eight thousand out of the 12,000 decided not to travel,” said Manhique.

He further explained that due to this situation, the traditionally busy days of 2 and 3 January are no longer expected to see peak traffic. More than 50% of workers who initially travelled to Mozambique returned to South Africa immediately after Christmas.

“Many didn’t wait for the New Year’s Eve celebrations. They returned right after Family Day and have already resumed work. Others remain in Mozambique and plan to use January to take disciplinary leave (vacation), so we expect fewer workers travelling back on these dates. If there’s a surge of travellers, we believe most will be foreign nationals or a few locals,” explained the MITRAB delegate in South Africa.

Additionally, Mozambique Airlines (LAM) cancelled the second phase of its miner transport operation between Chongoene Airport in Gaza and OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, citing the unavailability of an aircraft.

In its inaugural flight in December 2023, just over 3,000 mineworkers travelled by air from South Africa to Mozambique to celebrate the festive season with their families.

Source: Noticias