Africa: Mozambique: Communist Election Rigging: SA feels impact of fresh violence and escalating clampdown i n Maputo amid disputed election
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A prolonged closure of the border would be costly not only to the mining sector but also to both economies more widely, and would be a fresh blow to investor sentiment towards Mozambique, where police fired tear gas at hundreds of opposition supporters converging on the capital Maputo on Thursday for the biggest demonstration yet against last month’s disputed election.
The temporary closing of the Lebombo border crossing into Mozambique from South Africa, triggered by escalating protests over last month’s disputed election, is a fresh setback to South African chrome producers and other miners who have been switching to the port of Maputo to export their bulky product in the face of Transnet’s woes.
Reuters reported that fresh violence erupted around Maputo on Thursday morning, 7 November, as Mozambican police fired teargas at hundreds of opposition supporters gathering for a mass Day of Freedom demonstration – a signal that the unrest is far from over.
Even if the border closure is relatively brief, the fall-out from the election will likely remain an unwelcome political and security risk for companies that have come to rely increasingly on the port of Maputo. The ruling Frelimo Party, in power since Mozambique’s independence from Portugal in 1975, has responded to the protests with violence and a throttling of internet access.
In a sign of the ripple effect from the border closure and the mounting unrest, South African logistics company Grindrod said on Thursday that it had suspended its port and terminal operations in Mozambique.
“Shareholders are advised that following the closure of the Lebombo border connecting South Africa and Mozambique, a suspension of rail operations, and to ensure safety of our employees, Grindrod’s port and terminal operations in Maputo and Matola are temporarily suspended,” the company said in a SENS announcement on Thursday. “The situation will be assessed continually prior to any resumption.”
South African minerals producers, notably chrome miners, have increasingly been pushing their exports through Maputo – the main destination is China – as the state-run logistics company Transnet went off the rails.
There are hopes that Transnet can turn things around under CEO Michelle Phillips, but its pain has been Maputo’s gain. According to Reuters, Maputo’s port in 2023 moved a record 31.2 million metric tons of cargo, 16% higher than the previous year. Bulk commodities such as copper, chrome, ferrochrome and coal account for the lion’s share.
Most of Northam Platinum’s chrome – a platinum by-product which is a key ingredient in stainless steel production – goes through Maputo to China.
“We move about 3,000 tonnes a day through Maputo, and now there is a backlog of about 5,000 tonnes but Durban remains an option. We also put a bit through via rail and the rail network is still open at the border. We hope it will normalise by next week,” Leon van Schalkwyk, chief commercial officer at Northam, told Daily Maverick.
Chrome producer Tharisa moves about a third of its chrome via Maputo and spokesperson Ilja Graulich told Daily Maverick that the company had no trucks currently in Mozambique and would for now divert any product destined for there to other ports such as Durban.
Mounting costs
Demonstrators carry a wounded person during a protest called by the opposition Optimist Party for the Development of Mozambique in Maputo, Mozambique, on 7 November 2024. (Photo: Luisa Nhantumbo EPA-EFE )
A prolonged closure of the border would be costly not just to the mining sector but both the South African and Mozambican economies more widely and would be a fresh blow to investor sentiment towards Mozambique, which has grappled with an Islamic insurgency in the north as oil majors strive to develop the country’s massive offshore gas deposits.
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) said on Wednesday that Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola had a telephone call with his Mozambican counterpart Minister Verónica Macamo about the situation.
“South Africa calls for calm and restraint, to allow the electoral process to conclude successfully, and give the Constitutional Court of Mozambique time and space to validate the election results in accordance with its mandate,” Dirco said.
“Given the current security situation in Mozambique, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation encourages all South Africans to postpone non-essential visits to the country until further notice.”
That sounded like an implicit travel advisory, something which Pretoria never issues, on principle, because it has taken exception in the past to travel advisories on South Africa, issued by Western governments, warning their citizens about crime and terrorism threats in this country.
But Lamola’s spokesperson, Chrispin Phiri, insisted: “It’s not a travel advisory. Remember BMA [Border Management Authority] has closed the border.”
Indeed BMA did issue a statement on Tuesday saying BMA Commissioner Michael Masiapato had closed the Lebombo border post because of reports of vehicles being torched on the Mozambique side of the border post.
Human rights groups have reported that at least 18 people have been killed in the protests over last month’s election result, which opposition supporters maintain was fraudulent. Opposition presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane, who has a large following among restive youth in one of the world’s poorest countries, claims to have won. DM
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