MOZ RIOTS: THREAT TO CLOSE BORDERS, EMASWATI WARNED

MBABANE – The ongoing riots in Mozambique seem to have taken a different twist, as rioters have threatened to close all the country’s borders.

According to a source from Mozambique, the nation was warned about travelling through the country’s borders as the riots have also affected ports of entry. Speaking to this reporter, he mentioned that through announcements from the leaders of the protest, borders may be closed by the opposition party, starting today. “The borders will be closed and there will be restrictions on movements inside the country. The situation is really bad,” said the source.  

While Eswatini may continue opening borders, South Africa’s Border Management Authority (BMA) said it is not able to give a full account of whether it is safe to visit Mozambique. BMA Commissioner Dr Michael Masiapato highlighted the escalation of demonstrations in the past week, which continued to disrupt port operations, particularly between 9am and 4pm.  Masiapato advised travellers leaving and or entering South Africa to ensure all their travel documents are in order, to avoid any unnecessary delays at the ports of entry. He said since the start of the protests in Ressano Garcia, there have been no incidents that affected infrastructure or human resources on the South African side.

“The deployment of the Mozambican security forces on the ground has maintained a steady posture with preventive measures being employed to mitigate the risks,” he said.
Mozambique’s opposition leader, Venâncio Mondlane, has been urging his supporters to protest against the results of the October presidential elections, in which he came second to the ruling Frelimo Party.

Reports indicate that the ongoing demonstrations in Mozambique have led to violent clashes with the police, resulting in at least 67 deaths. Further reports reveal that Mondlane has rejected the election results, in which Frelimo’s candidate, Daniel Chapo, won with a significant 71 per cent of the vote. Mondlane, an evangelical pastor who stood as an independent after breaking away from the main opposition Renamo, received only 20 per cent.

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