Lebombo port of entry temporary closed due to safety concerns

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The Border Management Authority (BMA), has announced the temporary closure of Lebombo port of entry due to safety concerns.

This comes after the authority received reports of vehicles being torched on the Mozambican side.

Mozambique has been marred with protests following reports of discrepancies in the number of voters in the three elections that took place on 9 October.

More than a dozen people have been killed and several others injured during clashes in recent days as crowds took to the streets of Maputo on Tuesday denouncing police violence.

Due to these security incidents and in the interest of public safety, the port has been temporarily closed until further notice, Commissioner Dr Michael Masiapato confirmed.

Masiapato said the decision was made to ensure the safety of all cross-border transporters, travellers, traders and officials operating at the port.

Travel suspend through Lebombo port

He stated that the BMA is coordinating closely with Mozambican authorities and South African law enforcement agencies to monitor the situation and work towards reopening the port as soon as it is safe to do so.

“We advise all stakeholders to suspend travel through Lebombo Port until further notice. Alternative routes to Mozambique must be used where feasible, at the moment until the situation has stabilised.

“All South African officials are on the ground providing assistance with seven officials from the Mozambican side having requested refuge on the South African side for safety and protection,” the commissioner remarked.

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Masiapato highlighted that the BMA and its counterparts are working urgently to address the situation, and we are appreciating the cooperation we are receiving at the moment. 

He added; “The BMA and SARS will continue to provide real-time updates through official channels and notify stakeholders as soon as the port is deemed safe for reopening.

Meanwhile, Amnesty International has called for an end to violent post-election crackdown saying the crisis is the country’s worst crackdown on protests in years. 

Mozambique’s Frelimo-led government must halt its violent and widespread crackdown on human rights and respect everyone’s rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, Amnesty International said. 

“The last two weeks in Mozambique have been marked by completely unnecessary bloodshed as authorities have tried to stop a peaceful protest movement with deadly force.

“The number of casualties increases every day, with authorities deploying weapons of war, including rifles and armoured vehicles, on city streets.

“People cannot even protest in their own homes without risking tear gassing by police,” said Khanyo Farise, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for East and Southern Africa.