Transporters still monitoring Mozambique
Local transporters say they are still on high alert over developments in Mozambique before they can fully resume using routes passing through that country to transport cargo, including petroleum products, into Malawi.
Political tension and domestic unrest erupted in Mozambique few months ago, affecting cargo which comes into Malawi through Mozambique.
Some months ago, the media reported that fuel tankers were ambushed by unknown militia groups in Mozambique while enroute to Malawi.
President of the Transporters Association, Abdul Lambat, said while recent developments indicate return of stability to Mozambique, the group is still monitoring the trends before full confidence is restored.
“While we are happy with the progress that has been made so far, safety concerns still remain. We still require police escort when hauling cargo through Mozambique,” Lambat said.
Lambat said the situation continues to pose a threat to the economy. While he could not quantify the damage incurred so far, Lambat said the loss to the economy is enormous.
“If we are to sum up the total loss cumulatively, we would see that the damage was huge. This does not include the loss in revenue to the country,” said Lambat.
