Negotiations underway between Mozambique and Zimbabwe to extend Machipanda railway to Botswana

Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi announced on Monday that his administration is currently in negotiations with Zimbabwean authorities to extend the Machipanda railway into Botswana.

The Machipanda railway currently connects the central Mozambican port of Beira to Machipanda at the Zimbabwe border. The extension to Botswana forms part of a collaborative effort among Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Botswana, which also includes plans for a deep-water mineral port in southern Mozambique.

President Nyusi highlighted these initiatives during the inauguration of the doubled track on the Ressano Garcia line, linking Maputo to South Africa. He emphasized ongoing discussions with Zimbabwe to link the Machipanda line, with further trilateral talks scheduled in the coming weeks.

In related developments, the Mozambique-Botswana Joint Cooperation Commission convened in Maputo, where significant progress was reported in bilateral cooperation. Central to the discussions was the proposed deep-water port in Mozambique’s southern Matutuine district, a long-standing project that has evolved in location and scale over decades.

Foreign Minister Veronica Macamo noted advancements towards a tripartite agreement, slated for signing in Maputo to advance negotiations on the Techobanine port. She underscored the need for synergy and resource mobilization across the three countries to realize this ambitious project, estimated at US$6.5 billion.

The Techobanine port is set to be connected to Botswana via a 1,700-kilometer (1056-mile) railway, passing through Zimbabwe, primarily to facilitate the export of Botswanan coal. Despite environmental concerns, Macamo assured that the project’s progress reflects unprecedented cooperation among the involved nations.

Additional memorandums of understanding in geology, mining, and metallurgy are also expected to be signed during President Mokgweetsi Masisi of Botswana’s upcoming visit to Mozambique. This visit, scheduled between 10th and 12th July, aims to solidify agreements and cooperation frameworks, including support from Botswana in countering terrorism in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province.

Botswana’s Foreign Minister Lemogang Kwape reiterated his country’s commitment to bolstering Mozambique’s efforts against terrorism and emphasized the enduring friendship and cooperation between the two nations, especially amid challenges like climate change and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.