Malawi Economy Grinding To Halt Because Of Renamo Isurgence In Mozambique
The rebel fighter group Renamo in Mozambique has sent a clear message to Malawian government that Mozambique is now a no trade zone as they have embarked on a system of ambushing Malawian fuel tankers passing through the country and set them ablaze.
Last week, the no nonsense RENAMO gunmen set ablaze a Malawian fuel tanker, and , over the weekend three more trucks were set ablaze as well.
"Weekend`s incidents happened at Nyasakara, the same area where many have witnessed the shooting of ordinary Malawians who were on their way to Mozambique." Narrated a track driver who saw militia men shooting and killing other truck drivers after the militias mounted an adhoc roadblock.
“There were about 10 trucks that stopped because of the adhoc roadblock set up by the militia men. I was behind so when one militia man directed his eyes at me, I raised my hands up as a show of surrender while praying to God Almighty. He came shouted something in his language which I did not understand but I fell on the ground and immediately he left me for others after his master called him and this forced me to flee into the bushes,” He said, adding that he crawled into the bushes where he stayed for over 30 minutes and after there was silence, he crawled back to the road, got into his vehicle and returned Malawi.
The volatile situation in Mozambique hs got a nagative impact to Malawi economy. Malawi as a landlocked country depends on Mozambique for fuel importation and export of rice to overseas.
In an earlier interview, Chief Executive officer of Importers Petroleum Limited (IPL) Kadango, whose fuel tanker was set ablaze last week said that Malawi lost over K 20 million of fuel in the inferno.
“We have lost about K 23 million worth of fuel that was set on fire together with the truck that was carrying the fuel,” he said.
Kadango added that the country is looking at other alternatives on how it can transport fuel.
“We are thinking of using the Zambia- Zimbabwe route which is safer than the Mozambique route but it will depend on whether Zimbabwe will allow us to use its pipeline.
“If all goes well then we will be transporting fuel via that route to protect lives of Malawians as well as property,” he added.
He further warned that the proposed route would be expensive than using Mozambique, and this will see a rise in fuel prices.
"Weekend`s incidents happened at Nyasakara, the same area where many have witnessed the shooting of ordinary Malawians who were on their way to Mozambique." Narrated a track driver who saw militia men shooting and killing other truck drivers after the militias mounted an adhoc roadblock.
“There were about 10 trucks that stopped because of the adhoc roadblock set up by the militia men. I was behind so when one militia man directed his eyes at me, I raised my hands up as a show of surrender while praying to God Almighty. He came shouted something in his language which I did not understand but I fell on the ground and immediately he left me for others after his master called him and this forced me to flee into the bushes,” He said, adding that he crawled into the bushes where he stayed for over 30 minutes and after there was silence, he crawled back to the road, got into his vehicle and returned Malawi.
The volatile situation in Mozambique hs got a nagative impact to Malawi economy. Malawi as a landlocked country depends on Mozambique for fuel importation and export of rice to overseas.
In an earlier interview, Chief Executive officer of Importers Petroleum Limited (IPL) Kadango, whose fuel tanker was set ablaze last week said that Malawi lost over K 20 million of fuel in the inferno.
“We have lost about K 23 million worth of fuel that was set on fire together with the truck that was carrying the fuel,” he said.
Kadango added that the country is looking at other alternatives on how it can transport fuel.
“We are thinking of using the Zambia- Zimbabwe route which is safer than the Mozambique route but it will depend on whether Zimbabwe will allow us to use its pipeline.
“If all goes well then we will be transporting fuel via that route to protect lives of Malawians as well as property,” he added.
He further warned that the proposed route would be expensive than using Mozambique, and this will see a rise in fuel prices.
Source: Maravi Post- Malawi
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