In an interview with broadcaster Newzroom Afrika on Christmas Day, Mayor of Quelimane, the fifth-largest city in Mozambique, Manuel Lopes de Araújo, who is a member of Mozambique’s main opposition party, Renamo, warned that the South African Development Community (SADC) region will feel the heat if the situation in Mozambique further degenerates.

“If we do not have peace in Mozambique, what is going to happen to South Africa’s economy will be very dire. The Maputo port is the most important port to South Africa, it is the closet port to Johannesburg. Minerals from Joburg area are exported through Maputo port,” he said.

“If the Maputo port is closed, if the border is closed … the same applies to Zimbabwe, if Beira port is closed and the Nacala port is closed, the economy of SADC will collapse literally. Mozambique is a very important and strategic partner, I wish the SADC had taken a proactive (stance) but I am very happy with President (Cyril) Ramaphosa’s stand and with Minister (Ronald) Lamola.”

Arajulo warned that a humanitarian crisis would be inevitable in Mozambique, and that would lead to millions of desperate people fleeing into South Africa and border management authorities would not be able to stop the crowds.

“That is what I have been telling the South African government, the civil society and the economic sectors. Problem in Mozambique is a problem next day to South Africa. You saw what happened when the Ressano Garcia border (Lebombo in South Africa) was closed. There were thousands of trucks standing still in the road, so the economy of South Africa was affected but that is nothing if the situation escalates. People will be flocking.

“Look, we don’t have a border literally, people can just cross that line there. I know South Africa tried to put a wall and so on, but that will be destroyed in minutes when people really want to move. Remember what happened when there was a crisis in Zimbabwe. People flocked to South Africa and up to now, Zimbabweans are in South Africa,” said Arajulo.

jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za

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