Truck Drivers Union of Malawi (TDUM) has given government 24 hours to address the surging violence on the roads in Tete Province, Mozambique, where drivers have been constantly attacked.
The union’s vice-president Francis Mkandawire said in an interview yesterday that their meeting with Transporters Association of Malawi (TAM) resolved that the association should take up the matter with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He said: “If we do not get any feedback, we have no option, but to tell our drivers not to cross into Mozambique and that those already in that country should just park at a safe place until we get a solution to our problem.”
Mkandawire further revealed that the attacks on truck drivers have prevailed since the post-election violence in that country, but have become worse over the past few weeks.
He explained that at least 10 attacks have been reported since last week, adding that two trucks were attacked yesterday at Moatize, a mining town 20 kilometres from Tete where engine parts were tampered with and windscreens were smashed.
Some footage we have seen shared by a Malawian driver Desire Chikhwaza of CMV Logistics shows his windscreen being smashed by an object, after which, his face started to bleed from cuts caused by glass splinters.
meet the ministry. | TAM
“We were attacked and reported the matter to police who helped us board a bus to Malawi. But see what is happening, the bus is also being smashed,” says another driver in a separate video we have seen.
Transporters often use the road network to reach the border with Mozambique, and then continue their journey through Mozambique to access ports or other destinations.
The Nacala Corridor involves road transport from Malawi to the port of Nacala in Mozambique, handling a significant portion of goods such as fuel, tea, tobacco, beans, fertilisers, medicines and other essentials.
In a separate interview, TAM spokesperson Francis Banda confirmed that yesterday’s meeting resolved that from tomorrow, the union will not allow its members to travel to Mozambique until the two governments address the matters.
“That country is not safe and they now fear for their lives. For us as TAM, we understand the situation. They have sent us some disturbing videos of the situation there,” he said.
Malawi’s Consular general for Tete and Zambezia provinces Happy Saka said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Malawi is best-placed to comment on the matter.
He said: “All the information you are requesting will be provided either by the Principal Secretary or spokesperson in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
ambush in Moatize. | TDUM
The ministry’s spokesperson Charles Nkhalamba asked for more time before commenting on the matter.
Secretary for Foreign Affairs Mwayi McLloyd Polepole said they are looking into the matter, but was yet to provide details by press time yesterday.
Mozambique’s strategic location is crucial to value chains by connecting landlocked countries such as Malawi to the Indian Ocean through Beira and Nacala ports, but the recent post-election instability has threatened trade ties in the region.
In January 2024, four transporters’ associations wrote to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs demanding a lasting solution to various forms of assault Malawian truck drivers are enduring when transiting in Mozambique.
