Maputo Unrest and Road Closure

[Hilux2Hilux]

I heard over the radio of violent demonstrations in the capital. 6 People killed.
They also said that the road to RSA has been closed. So I assume the N4 is closed.
If planning to go there soon just take care. Get updated info on the situation.
Demonstrating against price increases.

[0000DS]

This was posted on News 24 this morning:

The South African government has closed its embassy in Mozambique following violent riots in the capital Maputo, the South African Broadcasting Corporation reported on Wednesday.

The road to South Africa had also been closed as rioters blockaded the route and set fire to a petrol station in the Matola, between Maputo and the border.

"South Africans travelling to Mozambique should call their airlines or the embassy to find out about the situation in the country," International Relations spokesperson Saul Molobi told the broadcaster.

Many South Africans were reportedly unable to get to the airport.

Four killed
Meanwhile, police in Mozambique killed four people and wounded 27 when they fired on demonstrators protesting against rising prices on Wednesday, police spokesperson Pedro Cossa said.

"Four people died, 142 were arrested and 27 were wounded, including two police officers. These are preliminary figures. Thirty-two shops were damaged. Police will continue to patrol the streets," said Cossa.

Young victim
One of the dead was a 12-year-old boy shot in the head and left in a pool of blood in the street, a school textbook resting beside him, an Agence France-Presse correspondent said.

A witness said the dead boy had been walking toward demonstrators when police opened fire with live ammunition.

However Cossa denied that police had used live rounds, saying "our officers always use rubber bullets".

Currency slump
Mozambique has seen prices climb in recent months as the value of its currency, the metical, slumped against the South African rand.

The exchange rate is currently five meticals to the rand, down from a rate of 3,5 this time last year, according to exchange data from South Africa's Standard Bank. -- Sapa, AFP

[Hilux2Hilux]

This was posted on News 24 this afternoon:

Komatipoort - Unrest in the capital of Mozambique has not affected the Lebombo border post near Komatipoort in Mpumalanga, which is the main port of entry between the country and South Africa.

Henson Msongweni, head of the South African Border Control Operation Co-ordinating Committee, said the Lebombo border post was operating normally.

“The traffic flow in both directions is less than we normally see, but we have not experienced any problems so far," he said.

"The border was also not closed on Wednesday when the riots in Maputo started, and since early on Thursday people have been coming and going through the border as usual."

Msongweni said the riots seemed to have taken place about 80km from the border, "which leaves us with little to worry about”.

Anita Heyl, spokesperson for N4 toll road operator Trans African Concessions (Trac), said travellers should check on the situation in Mozambique before making use of the N4 route between Matola and Maputo.

“Riots and protest actions have been reported on that stretch of road, but Trac's operations in Maputo have not been directly affected. We have opened lanes at the Maputo Plaza to allow for quick and easy traffic flow through the plaza so that people do not have to stop for long during these exceptional circumstances,” she said.

“Normal traffic flow at the plaza has, however, decreased substantially since the start of the unrest yesterday (Wednesday). The plaza will operate at full capacity as soon as the situation in Maputo has normalised.”

Meanwhile, South African Airways spokesperson Fani Zulu said flights to and from Maputo have resumed after being cancelled yesterday.

“This morning we decided to resume with our daily flights - two planes to Maputo and two from the capital back to South Africa. If the riots continue, we will decide what to do next for the safety of our passengers,” he said.

Mpumalanga police spokesperson Captain Leonard Hlathi warned Mozambicans in South Africa that the police were on high alert at the border.

“We warn them not to undertake any toyi-toying in sympathy with their countrymen because the police are ready for anything. We have deployed enough manpower to monitor and control the situation. If they want to riot in support of their comrades, they should cross the border and do it in their own country,” he said.

- African Eye