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Picture courtesy: (@BWPresidency shared via X) Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Botswana are collaborating on a tripartite project to extend the Machipanda railway line into central Botswana, aiming to develop Botswana’s substantial coal reserves. E
(The Post News)- Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi announced on Monday that his government was in negotiations with Zimbabwean authorities to extend the Machipanda railway line to Botswana.
The development comes after Zimbabwe and Mozambique jointly began the upgrading and widening of a 10km railway line from Machipanda to Mutare in May after Mozambique had already upgraded its Beira to Machipanda railway line.
Nyusi mentioned these plans in a speech at the inauguration of the double-track extension of the Ressano Garcia line, which links Maputo and South Africa.
“We are working with our brothers in Zimbabwe to ensure that the Machipanda line is connected to Zimbabwe,” Nyusi said, promising that further talks would take place between the three countries involved in the coming weeks.
The line runs from the port of Beira in central Mozambique to Machipanda on the Zimbabwean border.
The extension to Botswana is part of a tripartite project between Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Botswana that also includes the construction of a deep-sea minerals port in Mozambique’s far south.
The Mozambique-Botswana Joint Cooperation Commission assembled in Maputo on Monday.
At the end of the sitting, Mozambican Foreign Minister, Veronica Macamo said impressive progress had been made in bilateral cooperation.
Macamo said a tripartite agreement would be signed in Maputo on Friday to advance negotiations on the Techobanin port.
Plans to build a deep-water port in Mozambique’s southernmost Matutuine region were first announced during colonial times but funding (estimated at $6.5 billion) has yet to be secured.
The port will be linked to Botswana by a 1,700 km railway line passing through Zimbabwe.
The main cargo will be for Botswana coal and this will enable the development of Botswana’s large coal reserves.
“The finalization of negotiations and other legal documents will be signed during the visit of the President of Botswana, Mogweetsi in Mozambique, which will take place from 10 to 12 July,” Makamo said.
Macamo also acknowledged the Botswana government’s support for sending a contingent to fight Islamist terrorists in the northern Cabo Delgado province as part of the Southern African Development Community (SAMIM) military mission in Mozambique.
Botswana’s Foreign Minister, Lemogang Kwape said relations between Botswana and Mozambique are historic and based on great friendship, solidarity, and cooperation.
He stated that Botswana will continue to support Mozambique in the fight against terrorists in Cabo Delgado.
“This meeting comes at a time when both our countries are facing major challenges such as climate change. We are still suffering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and this is why it is high time to strengthen cooperation between our two countries,” Kwape said.
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