The Port of Maputo handled more cargo in 2008 than at any time since 1977 and is well on its way to realising its potential, says Dick Moore, commercial manager for the Maputo Port Development Company. “In 2009 the port will handle about 100 trucks per day coming off the Maputo Corridor, compared to 15 per day back in 2003. Major developments have taken place and the potential for the port is unlimited.” Actively seeking the South African market, the port wants to become the preferred gateway not only for the northern provinces of South Africa but also for countries such as Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Zambia and Botswana. Plans are under way for 24-hour operations at the Lebombo/Ressano Garcia border post while road upgrades have already made a difference. “The new highway (N4/EN4) runs continuously from Rustenburg in North West right up to the new entrance at Port Maputo. Heavy goods vehicles leaving Johannesburg at 6am loaded with valuable South African exports are in the port by 2pm and, with turnaround times of less than 60 minutes, the same trucks are back in Gauteng by 10pm with a load of imports from China or a backload from Mpumalanga,” Moore told FTW Said one trucker, who wanted to remain anonymous, “We like this route, it's quick, uncongested and safe. Not a single vehicle has been hijacked since the port opened in 2003. “All in all the transit experience is much easier and more efficient than it was. This has been achieved by processing commercial vehicles at secure customs depots located on either side of the frontier, 4 or 5 kilometres from the crossing, thus reducing congestion at the frontier itself which is reserved for cars and pedestrians. Huge improvements have also been made in terms of customs and immigration resources and there is a far higher level of operational integration between the South African and Mozambican authorities.”
