The Border Management Authority (BMA) has announced that cargo operations at the Lebombo Border Post have resumed, following a temporary closure last week due to security concerns amid political protests in Mozambique.
These protests, driven by political tensions, led to reports of vehicles being set on fire on the Mozambican side of the border. While the border was initially closed to manage security risks, BMA Commissioner Dr Michael Masiapato confirmed that the situation had improved, with the Mozambican authorities restoring their systems to allow the resumption of processing activities at the KM 4 checkpoint. This marks a step toward the full reopening of the point of entry, which will also help clear the cargo backlog in collaboration with the South African Revenue Service (SARS).
“The Mozambican systems have been restored, and processing activities have resumed on their side. This development enables the BMA and SARS to work diligently to clear the current backlog,” Masiapato said. The resumption of cargo processing through the Ressano Garcia port of entry into Mozambique follows concerted efforts by Mozambican authorities to resolve the issues with their systems, ensuring smoother border operations.
However, despite the resumption of cargo operations, the BMA continues to advise caution for travelers. Travelers have been warned to “remain cautious and stay informed of travel updates when planning trips to Mozambique,” Masiapato stressed, while also urging travelers to consider alternative ports, such as the Mananga port, which is located 60km from Lebombo. “We’ve advised travelers to use this port for passage into Eswatini, which will ultimately allow them to enter Mozambique safely.”
The BMA also emphasized that the partial reopening of the border was initially to allow Mozambicans to return home, with Masiapato noting “for the ordinary Mozambicans who say ‘I want to go back home’, we should not necessarily continue to refuse them to do so.” However, Mozambican authorities had further “worked tirelessly to address cargo systems for smooth border processing,” Masiapato noted, with the border now able to process cargo.
As for South African nationals, Masiapato confirmed that there have been no reports of South Africans being “under siege” on the Mozambican side. The primary concerns have been related to the movement of South African trucks, including six petroleum trucks, which were repatriated for safety reasons.
The BMA and SARS will continue to monitor the situation closely to ensure smooth and secure border operations, with the goal of facilitating trade and travel in a safe manner. However, travelers are urged to remain cautious and stay informed of any updates when planning trips to Mozambique. The BMA has stated that further engagements with the Mozambican government will take place to determine the next steps for the border’s full reopening.
