Swazi Observer

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MINISTRY CAUTIONS TRADERS AMID MOZA UNREST

By NOKUNCEDA MAGAGULA | 2025-01-02

THE ministry of commerce, industry and trade has advised Eswatini traders to take precautions and exercise due diligence when conducting business amid the Mozambique political unrest.

In a statement stated released on Tuesday, the ministry that owing to the ongoing civil strife in the Republic of Mozambique and cognisant that some sectors of the economy mainly fuel, sugar and others do trade in that country.

The ministry stated that it was also cognisant of the constraints Eswatini traders were currently facing in that country. “Pursuant to this situation, the ministry of commerce, industry and trade is continuously monitoring the situation," read part of the statement.

The ministry assured the nation that the ministry would provide update on further developments working together with the Eswatini Embassy in Mozambique. Due to the unrest, Eswatini has since registered over 1 000 asylum seekers at Malindza Refugee Reception Centre This was shared by Prime Minister Russell Dlamini in a statement.

Dlamini said the number of asylum seekers remained relatively low and stable between November to December 14. The prime minister said the daily count of asylum seekers arriving in the country then did not exceed 23 arrivals per day. He said a significant increase in arrivals had been observed from December 15, highlighting that the daily counts reached 399 arrivals on December 29.

Dlamini said it was important to note that the above figures only accounted for those who sought to be registered and requested to be accommodated at the Refugee centre. "Following the unrest that erupted in recent months in the neighbouring Republic of Mozambique, the Kingdom of Eswatini has experienced an influx of asylum seekers entering the country from Mozambique.

These asylum seekers comprise of all gender and demographic groups," he said. Furthermore, export has been negatively affected as the Eswatini Sugar Association (ESA) had previously reported that transportation cost of sugar to Europehas increased as they had to use an alternative route since Mozambique had been hit by the unrest.

ESA disclosed that they had to use the Durban route to transpot sugar. According to Mozambican media reports, more than 12 000 people have lost their jobs and more than 500 companies have been vandalised. Along with businesses, FRELIMO offices, courts, police stations and road toll booths have been torched. Last week, the police reported that more than 1 500 prisoners escaped from a maximum security prison, taking advantage of the political unrest.

This comes after a court ruling that cleared the way to the presidency for Daniel Chapo, the candidate for FRELIMO, the party that has governed the nation since its independence from Portugal in 1975.

The top opposition candidate, Venâncio Mondlane, vowed to dispute the results and called on Mozambicans to protest against what he sees as the governing party clinging to power through fraud.

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