By Mercy Matonga:
The government has said it is monitoring the situation in Mozambique before taking any action regarding the unrest in the fellow Southern African Development Community member state.
Information Minister and government spokesperson Moses Kunkuyu said Sunday that the government was keeping a close eye on the developments while praying for peace and stability to return.
“I feel the situation in Mozambique has negatively impacted Malawi, as seen in the recent disruptions in the fuel supply chain. This has forced us to rely on a single route. We hope for the best in Mozambique,” Kunkuyu said.
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The protests in Mozambique resumed after, last week, the Constitutional Council confirmed the victory of ruling Frelimo presidential candidate Daniel Chapo.
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He triumphed in the October 9 2024 presidential election.
However, post-election violence has forced approximately 12,600 Mozambicans to flee to Malawi through Nsanje District.
Chapo is expected to be sworn in as Mozambique’s president on January 15 next year, succeeding President Filipe Nyusi, who has completed his two terms.
Chapo will become Mozambique’s fifth president since the country’s independence from Portugal in 1975.
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Transportation, including fuel supply to Malawi, has been disrupted, with many businesses shutting down in the former Portuguese colony amidst widespread looting and vandalism.
On Friday last week, Commissioner for Refugees, General Ignacio Maulana, said the influx of refugees from Mozambique to Malawi had not taken the department by surprise as they were expected.
“All agencies, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, World Food Programme and the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma), among others, are on alert [and know about] what is happening,” Maulana said.
District Commissioner for Nsanje Dominic Mwandira said more Mozambicans were expected to enter Malawi as days pass.
“The refugees are currently sheltering in traditional authorities (TAs) Mlolo, Tengani, and Mbenje in Nsanje District.
“What is challenging is [the availability of] food and other essential items to support these households. There is a need for urgent food distribution in the areas,” Mwandira said.
He said the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services was registering each and every household that was entering the country.
The Daily Times has established that officials had set camps at Chikonje Primary School, TA Mlolo; Tengani Evacuation Centre; Chazuka Community-based Child Care Centre; Nyamithuthu Primary School, TA Tengani; and Phokera, which is under TA Mbenje.
On his part, Commissioner for Disaster Management Affairs Charles Kalemba said preparations were underway to provide food and essential supplies to the displaced families.
“Efforts are ongoing to assess the needs of the affected families and provide them with adequate support,” Kalemba said.
The political unrest in Mozambique comes as that country is working to recover from Cyclone Chido which, according to the country’s National Institute for Natural Disasters, has culminated in the death of 120 people.
The storm made landfall in the country more than a week ago.
In Malawi, it killed 13 people.
The conflict in Mozambique has also affected Malawi’s fuel import route.
On December 10, the National Oil Company of Malawi (Nocma) disclosed that the problem of fuel scarcity that is being experienced in the country has been exacerbated by demonstrations in Mozambique.
This, according to Nocma spokesperson Raymond Kambale, has affected the supply of petroleum products to the country.
“Currently, we are relying on one route, the Tanzania route.
