Mozambique conflict affects Malawi hauliers

Conflict in Mozambique is affecting Malawi’s transit goods to and from the Indian Ocean port of Beira as unknown people are said to have dug a trench along the road, making it difficult for trucks to pass, it has been learnt.
As of Monday morning, vehicles from Malawi to Beira and vice-versa had queued awaiting a solution.

Minister of Industry and Trade Joseph Mwanamvekha confirmed about the incidents on Monday, but said he was not in a position to speak.
He referred the matter to Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Francis Kasaila who admitted that there were challenges in Mozambique which he said the international community is trying to find a solution.
But Kasaila could not give more details on the incident that happened in the early hours of yesterday where a Malawian-registered truck believed to have carried round wood timber was set ablaze.
He said his ministry has not received any report on the incident.
But a witness, who is a transporter currently in Tete, Mozambique, confirmed to The Nation that there was an incident south of Catandica, 20 kilometres from Tete where a Malawian-registered truck was set on fire.
In recent months, United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has reported that Malawi is hosting about 12 000 Mozambican asylum seekers fleeing fighting between governing Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo) and the Mozambique National Resistance (Renamo) militias of opposition leader Alfonso Dhlakama. 