Zimbabwe’s economic recovery has led to a surge in demand for transport services from its neighbour Mozambique, which provides access to the Indian Ocean for the landlocked country. Mozambique’s road and rail networks are struggling to cope with the increased traffic volumes and need urgent upgrades, according to the leaders of both countries.
On Friday, Mozambique’s President Filipe Nyusi met with Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa on the sidelines of the Saudi-Africa Summit in Riyadh, where they discussed ways to enhance cooperation in infrastructure, energy, security and trade. The summit, which was the first of its kind, aimed to boost political and investment ties between Saudi Arabia and African countries and address regional security threats.
Nyusi told reporters that Mozambique was working on rehabilitating the Machipanda railway line, which links the port of Beira to Harare and other parts of Zimbabwe. He said the line was expected to reopen soon after extensive repairs. He also said that Mozambique was facing the challenge of handling about 500 trucks per day that cross the border from Zimbabwe, carrying goods to and from the sea. He attributed this to the improved economy of Zimbabwe, which has seen a remarkable turnaround in sectors such as agriculture, mining, manufacturing and electricity.
Zimbabwe has recorded successive bumper harvests of maize and wheat thanks to new models of farming based on mechanisation and irrigation. The country is now food secure and looking for markets for its surplus produce. Mnangagwa said he had discussed with Nyusi the possibility of selling wheat to Mozambique instead of importing it from faraway countries. He also said that Zimbabwe had benefited from the training of its special forces by Mozambique, fighting terrorism in its northern province of Cabo Delgado.
The two countries have a long history of friendship and solidarity, dating back to the liberation struggle against colonialism and apartheid. They have also cooperated in regional and continental initiatives, such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU). They share a common vision of promoting peace, stability and development in the region.
Source: The Herald
