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The Mozambican Government reaffirmed on Wednesday, 14 October, its commitment to modernising the Machipanda border crossing in Manica Province, a project valued at $30 million, despite a court order suspending the award of the international tender.
In a statement cited by the Lusa news agency, the Ministry of Transport and Logistics clarified that the international public tender for the Machipanda Integrated Border Project had not been cancelled but was subject to an interim injunction issued by the Administrative Court of Maputo City.
According to the Government, the court's decision does not constitute the cancellation of the tender or a final ruling on the legality of the procurement process. The authorities added that they are awaiting further legal proceedings and have not yet been formally notified of the main legal action.
The injunction follows a legal challenge filed by SAFAGA, one of the companies that participated in the tender. The company has questioned the criteria used to evaluate bids, the justification for awarding the contract, the technical and financial capacity of the winning consortium, and the composition of the tender evaluation committee.
Following the challenge, the court ordered the suspension of the contract award, temporarily preventing the signing of the concession agreement while the legal proceedings continue.
The project to modernise and expand the Machipanda One-Stop Border Post was announced in September, with a proposed 25-year concession awarded to Terminal Internacional Rodoviário de Machipanda.
The company's shareholding structure includes the Mozambican State, through the Road Fund, with a 15% stake. A further 10% is reserved for businesses in Manica Province, while the remaining 75% belongs to the Chinese consortium Union Portlink and Zhongmei.
According to the Government, the modernisation aims to improve the movement of people and goods between Mozambique and Zimbabwe, reducing logistical bottlenecks along one of the main land connections of the Beira Corridor.
The border currently handles approximately 320 trucks per day, transporting an estimated 9,600 tonnes of cargo. Official data indicate that the average waiting time stood at 16.6 hours in September 2025, although delays can extend to two or three days during periods of heavy traffic.
The project includes the expansion of the border terminal, improvements to traffic lanes, the construction of two new bridges over the Machipanda River, and the installation of electronic surveillance and control systems.
It also предусматриes the integration of Mozambican and Zimbabwean border management systems to simplify immigration and customs procedures.
The new infrastructure is expected to accommodate approximately 3,000 passengers per day and include a multimodal cargo terminal covering around 35,000 square metres.
According to Government estimates, the development could create approximately 700 direct jobs, including 500 during the construction phase and 200 during operations.
Despite the ongoing legal proceedings, the Government maintains that the modernisation of Machipanda remains a strategic priority for the development of the Beira Corridor and has pledged to ensure the project's implementation under conditions that safeguard the public interest.
The Centre for Public Integrity (CIP) has denounced alleged irregularities in the purchase of two garbage collection trucks by Maputo City Council, in a deal valued at 15.5 million meticals. According to the organisation, the vehicles were delivered with mechanical defects and never became operational, raising concerns about transparency in public procurement procedures.
The Mozambican Government has approved exceptional and temporary measures to simplify customs procedures for fuel imports, extending the deadlines for the storage and customs clearance of petroleum products until 31 December 2026, amid ongoing challenges in fuel supply across the country.
The Confederation of Economic Associations of Mozambique (CTA) considers that one year without new completed kidnappings in the country represents a positive sign for the improvement of the business environment, strengthening confidence among entrepreneurs and investors after more than a decade marked by this type of crime.
The Bank of Mozambique has extended by another six months the requirement for exporters to convert 50% of their export earnings into the national currency, in a move aimed at increasing foreign currency availability within the financial system. The decision took effect on 9 October, extending the exceptional regime introduced in April 2025.
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