Mozambique impounds Malawi-bound ‘military’ trucks
The Mozambican government has reportedly impounded 12 trucks and a hoe loader destined for Malawi because they wear North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) military colours.
Documents in our possession show that the Seddon Atkinson trucks were purchased from L Jackson & Co Limited in the United Kingdom and have been at the port of Maputo since March this year.
According to www.ljacksonandco.com, L Jackson & Co Limited is a leading supplier of ex-British military vehicles and equipment as well as EU/Nato and US forces equipment.
A letter signed by L Jackson & Co managing director Mathew Jackson indicates that the trucks were bought from civilian manufacturers but for use by UK’s armed forces, which necessitated being painted Nato green.
Reads part of the letter: “This letter is to confirm that the vehicles listed below and which have been supplied to Almeida Transport in February of this year were previously purchased from a civilian manufacturer for use by Her Majesty’s armed forces which necessitated the vehicles being painted Nato green. Upon being released from military service, these vehicles were demilitarised and considered fit for sale into the public market place as dictated by the UK Secretary of State for Defence.”
Despite this letter being shown to Mozambican authorities, according to managing director of Almeida Transport, Carlos Almeida, the trucks remain detained.
Having seen the intransigence of the Mozambican authorities, Almeida engaged Malawi Government officials in Mozambique but without success.
A letter signed by Catherine Zamaere, who is an official at the Malawi High Commission in Maputo, hints that the trucks cannot be released because they fall under restricted goods in Mozambique.
According to Zamaere, the director general of customs said the military characteristic trucks fall under restricted goods, hence special authority should have been sought.
But Almeida argues that what the Mozambican authorities did is daylight robbery because the trucks were destined for use in Malawi and not in Mozambique.
“I have spent over K150 million to purchase the trucks and I am losing big time. I think I have lost over K20 million for the period the trucks have been in Mozambique,” said Almeida.
Operations manager for Kiboko Safaris, Edson Banda, said this is not the first time they have purchased trucks painted in military colours and wondered why all of a sudden there is a change of heart by the Mozambican authorities.
