Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
MANICALAND (Zimbabwe) and Manica (Mozambique) provinces are forging stronger bilateral ties, driven by a shared goal of boosting economic cooperation and tackling infrastructure hurdles.
A courtesy call by Mozambique’s newly appointed State Secretary of Manica Province, Professor Lourenço Mateus Lindondo to the Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza, on Wednesday, underscored the importance of collaboration.
The two leaders engaged in high-level talks, focusing on enhancing cooperation and addressing the pressing need to upgrade the narrow bridge at the Forbes-Machipanda Border Post, which has become a bottleneck for trade and traffic flow between the two sister republics.
In an interview after the closed door meeting, Professor Lindondo highlighted the historical ties between the two provinces and their shared vision of prosperity for their communities.
“We are here to visit Manicaland Province as a fulfilment of the relationship between Zimbabwe and Mozambique. I was recently appointed State Secretary for Manica Province, and came here to introduce myself, get to know the leadership of this province and strengthen our relationship between the two provinces.
‘‘We aim to strengthen the historical relationship between Manica and Manicaland, which has existed since time immemorial,” he said.
Professor Lindondo further said while Forbes Border Post remains a vital trade gateway, challenges such as increased traffic require immediate attention.
“We discussed the Forbes-Machipanda Border Post and Manicaland Province’s use of the Sea Port of Beira. We face challenges at the border, which we need to overcome, including the surge in trucks, despite the border now being open 24 hours to facilitate travel.
‘‘There is considerable volume of traffic at the border, and we must find solutions to address this situation. Manicaland is rich in agriculture, and we have been invited to invest in its agricultural sector,” he said.
The two leaders pledged to collaborate on crafting long-term solutions to ease border congestion and promote seamless trade between the two countries.
“There is need for the two countries to sit down and devise a plan that will benefit both nations. We came here to reaffirm our relationship with Zimbabwe and cement our ties with Manicaland Province.
“This relationship presents a win-win situation for both countries. Overall, we are delighted with the meeting’s outcome, and hope it will yield positive results for our communities’ future,” said Professor Lindondo.
Minister Mugadza expressed optimism about the future of cross-border cooperation, emphasising that the meeting was fruitful, and marked the beginning of enhanced infrastructural development.
“We discussed various issues, including the establishment of a one-stop border post at the Forbes-Machipanda Border Post. We informed them about the forthcoming developments, specifically the revamping of the border post. They are enthusiastic and in agreement about the need for a one-stop border post, an initiative championed by our leaders, President Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa and former Mozambican President, His Excellency Filipe Nyusi. We are hopeful about the establishment of this one-stop border post and the widening of the small bridge between Zimbabwe and Mozambique at the two border posts, which currently hinders smooth traffic flow,” said Minister Mugadza.
The discussions also extended to the potential establishment of additional border posts between the two countries to ease pressure on the Forbes-Machipanda Border Post.
“We also talked about establishing other border posts along the border line, such as Honde Valley, Katiyo and Cashel Valley border posts, which, as Zimbabwe, we are endeavouring to establish.
‘‘They are also keen on and interested in establishing these border posts because they will provide both countries with a smooth flow of traffic, and reduce the amount of traffic passing through Forbes Border Post,” said Minister Mugadza.
Minister Mugadza underscored the enduring historical ties between the two provinces, noting that the bond extends beyond trade.
“As you know, the two countries are like Siamese twins. We share many things in common, including our history, dating back to the days of the liberation struggle; so we engaged in many other issues.
‘‘We are also expecting trade to flow to other SADC nations through Forbes Border Post. As leaders of the provinces hosting the two border posts, it is important that our linkages and communication are kept smooth and flowing.”
Minister Mugadza also commended the Mozambican government for its efforts in upgrading its railway line up to Mutare, which on completion, will play a critical role in reducing road traffic congestion.
“We thank the Mozambican government for upgrading the railway line up to Mutare. Our Government is also ensuring that the line is upgraded all the way to Harare, and this will be of much importance in as far as reducing traffic congestion on our roads is concerned,” he said.
The courtesy call by Professor Lindondo and the subsequent high-level discussions signal a new era of strengthened relations between Manica and Manicaland provinces.
As the two regions continue to collaborate, there is hope that infrastructural enhancements and increased trade facilitation will unlock vast opportunities and ultimately improve the livelihoods of communities on both sides of the border.
