Developments in Mozambique

Colonialism can have long-lasting effects on nation’s mindsets. One thing that it definitely shapes is our sense of affinities. Malawians believe  Zimbabwe is closer to them than Mozambique while Mozambican believe that Angola is closer to them than Malawi. One consequence of this is that we do not often pay attention to significant developments in our neighbour that may have far reaching consequences on our well-being. We know this from experience. The disruption of infrastructure in Mozambique during the liberation and civil wars cost us dearly.

There are currently huge developments in neighbouring Mozambique that can and will affect our lives. First is the reconstruction of the Sena-Beira line being completely rebuilt by the Indian Rites and Ircon consortium.  Remarkably the famous Dona Ana rail bridge over the Zambezi between Sena and Mutarara, which was sabotaged in 1985, has also been rebuilt, and work has now advanced to about 100 kilometres north of the bridge, in the direction of Moatize.  Mozambique is now ready to transport good from Sena to Beira. They have also built a dry port at the cargo terminal of the Sena railroad in the coal town of Moatize, in Tete province. They designed it for handling goods and for some land locked countries, such as Malawi, Zambia, Tanzania, the Democratic republic of Congo, amongst others and it  is due to go into operation in September when the railroad is also due to be reopened

According to official reports  “Demand is greater and the area has been totally sold out even before the train starts circulating again between Moatize and Beira. This is a project that is happening ahead of the train. Some Zimbabwean companies involved in marble exploration in Tete province have taken up some of the available space for this port.

There is a Malawi angle to all this: According to an official.

“The 44 kilometre branch line to Malawi has not yet been touched, since rebuilding it is dependent on work undertaken on the Malawian side. Nothing has moved on the line from the border to the Malawian town of Nsanje for more than two decades. There is no point in rebuilding the Mozambican stretch unless the shorter stretch inside Malawi is also rehabilitated “.

How does all this relate to our Nsanje port and the Nacala route?