Mozambique January 2007 |
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| Massive Increase in Traffic Through Ressano Garcia, (Agencia de Informacao de Mocambique, 2007-01-17):-The movement of passengers travelling by road through the Mozambique/South Africa border at Ressano Garcia increased by 44 per cent last month. when compared with December 2005. According to a release from the Maputo Corridor Logistics Initiative (MCLI), a grouping of South African and Mozambican businesses working for increased use of the road and rail links between Maputo port and South Africa, there was also a 10 per cent increase in freight using the road. The MCLI particularly praises the relevant government departments in both countries for "the very close cooperation, the effective operational plan and the way in which they handled the totally unexpected massive number of 113,500 passengers through the border on 23 December" (the Saturday before Xmas). The downside to this was the build-up of huge queues of vehicles at the border. The MCLI release notes "This increase in passenger traffic is a very clear indication of the urgent need for the implementation of an effective "one-stop border post" with the necessary infrastructure, systems, and staff to ensure that each and every traveler is facilitated timeously and in a dignified manner". MCLI points out that "congestion on the passenger side of the border has a serious impact also on freight movement - both areas have a major impact on the economy of our two countries". In absolute terms, 465,600 passengers passed through the border in December 2006, compared with 330,368 in December 2005. On an average day during the rest of the year, the border handles 8,000 passengers. But the average in December was double this, reaching 20,473 on 22 December, and 113,500 on 23 November. The previous record for a single day was 56,000 passengers. The bulk of the traffic consisted of Mozambican migrant workers going home for the holidays, and South African tourists heading for the beaches of southern Mozambique. In January, the major flow is in the other direction, and it looks as if the numbers will be similar. The MCLI release says that up to 11 January, the border had cleared around 200,000 passengers. The busiest day was 2nd January, with 80,422 passengers. The average time spent by travellers at the border that day was two hours. Despite the logistical problems, MCLI regards the increased traffic flow as "excellent news for our region - pointing to a clear success of the Maputo Development Corridor". MCLI urged government departments to "work together towards the fast implementation of our "One-Stop Border Post", pointing out that this was mandated by the Mozambican and South African Presidents, Armando Guebuza and Thabo Mbeki, in June 2006. "It is the right of our region's travelers to expect fast, efficient clearing and not to have to waste extensive hours of their very precious time, waiting to cross our landside borders - we ought to be in a position to be treated in the same way as passengers at our Airports", the MCLI release concluded. | |
South African Migration Project (SAMP) - Queen's University - http://www.queensu.ca/samp |