By : Lloyd Mahachi

Mozambique’s political instability has caused significant disruptions to Eswatini’s sugar industry. The unrest has led to traffic congestion and delays at the borders, affecting trade and exports.

Eswatini’s sugar industry relies heavily on the port of Maputo in Mozambique to export raw sugar to the European Union and the United States. However, the terminal at the port, jointly owned by Eswatini, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, has been impacted by the unrest.

Nontobeko Mabuza of the Eswatini Sugar Association warned that the unrest in Mozambique poses a significant threat to Eswatini’s exports. “The option is for us to move the sugar via the Durban port in South Africa, but this would come at an additional cost,” Mabuza said.

The Eswatini Sugar Association generated $305 million from sugar exports to the United States and other markets in 2023. However, the unrest in Mozambique has caused severe disruptions to the industry.

Bhekizwe Maziya, chief executive of the national agriculture marketing board, explained that the instability in Mozambique led to the closure of the Lebombo border post between South Africa and Mozambique. “Transport had to be rerouted to Eswatini from South Africa and en route to Mozambique, causing congestions at our borders and delays,” Maziya said.

The protests in Mozambique, led by opposition presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane, have resulted in a complete shutdown of traffic on major roads and violent confrontations with security forces. Over 100 people have been killed in the unrest.

Solomon Mondlane, a Mozambican political activist, warned that the instability could have far-reaching consequences for southern African economies. “With the unrest showing no signs of abating, it is essential for neighboring countries to assess their own trade dependency on Mozambique and identify alternative routes,” Mondlane said.

Political analyst Sibusiso Nhlabatsi emphasized the need for the Southern African Development Community to strengthen its conflict management strategies. “The community must establish a framework for accountability and ensure member states are responsible for their impact on regional stability,” Nhlabatsi said.

Editor : Josephine Mahachi