New rail line boon for Zim-Mozambique trade
◆ increasing trade amongst ourselves, modernising our infrastructure, growing our economies, not in isolation but in partnership. I say to my dear brother, keep on this vision; it is not for the benefit of Mozambicans, but for the benefit of our region — SADC.”
Zimbabwe, President Mnangagwa said, had been able to withstand the effects of sanctions imposed by the United States, the United Kingdom and European Union because of support from countries such as Mozambique.
“We in Zimbabwe are 23 years under imperial sanctions imposed by our former colonial masters because we reclaimed our land, but because our brothers and sisters in Mozambique have stood by us, Zimbabwe is progressing, Zimbabwe is growing, Zimbabwe is modernising, (and) Zimbabwe is on the march,” he said.
“We have been seeing kilometres and kilometres of trucks on the Mozambican side; kilometres and kilometres of lined up trucks on the Zimbabwe side. With the inauguration of the railway line, all that cargo will now move to Beira, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia and DRC by rail. And it becomes cheaper . . . This line was dead for more than 26 years.”
The President challenged Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona to work on a similar railway line on Zimbabwe’s side of the border, even if it meant the country had to outsource skills from its neighbouring country. As part of the multi-pronged strategy to ease the movement of goods between the two countries, Zimbabwe has already roped in a contractor — Leengate Private Limited — to build the Christmas Pass bypass road, which circumvents the route through Mutare’s Central Business District.
A dry port is also being considered. “I came here with several ministers from Zimbabwe, and I was telling them as we were moving on the train that none of them must sleep until they invite me to travel on a similar train in Zimbabwe. No sleeping!” said President Mnangagwa, who had the opportunity to share the train ride from Manica to the border with his host.
“And I said if we do not have skills, if we do not have machinery, the people of Mozambique have demonstrated that they have the skills and that they have the machinery. We can get that skill into Zimbabwe, and we can get that machinery into Zimbabwe. I want the job done yesterday.”
Cooperation between regional countries, he added, could help them develop through leveraging on their abundant resources, skilled manpower and vision.
President Mnangagwa also said Harare and Maputo must “march together and assist each other because we are one family”.
“I want to conclude by appealing to us all: We want peace, we want harmony, we want unity, we want love during the day and night. We must love each other,” he said. President Nyusi said Zimbabwe and Mozambique shared a deep bond and the newly rehabilitated infrastructure would, therefore, boost trade between the two countries and the region.
“From the onset, we would like to thank you, Mr President, for having accepted our invitation so that together we celebrate the completion of the rehabilitation of the strategic railway line,” said President Nyusi.
“Your presence emphasises the vital effect of the Beira-Machipanda railway system for the two countries and global trade, and expresses the relevance and commitment of your Government to cooperate with Mozambique, particularly in terms of making the Beira corridor viable.”