Malawi claims on fuels shortage are ‘lies’ –Mozambique
Mozambican port managers have denied claims by Malawi that the current shortage of fuel in that country is due to congestion in the Mozambican ports of Nacala and Beira.
Two managers of Beira and Nacala ports, Carlos Mesquita and Fernando Couto, described the claims as “lies”, when interviewed by Radio Mozambique on Monday.
Anyone with the slightest knowledge of the port of Nacala is well aware that its main problem is not congestion, but the exact opposite – chronic under-use. Nacala is regarded as the best deep water port on the east African coast. It does not need to be dredged and ships of any size can dock there.
It could certainly take tankers carrying fuel to Malawi – if the Malawians could pay for it. And this seems to be the real problem.
Fernando Couto, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the Northern Development Corridor (CDN), which runs the Nacala port and rail system, told the radio that the real cause of Malawi’s fuel problems is that Malawi is short of foreign currency.
“The Malawians have even asked us to lend them fuel”, Couto revealed. He stressed that tankers are always granted priority in docking. Certainly, CDN has no interest in sabotaging the supply of fuel to Malawi – for when there is no fuel flowing from Nacala to Malawi, CDN does not receive the port and rail fees for that cargo.
Mesquita, the CEO of Cornelder Mozambique, the consortium which runs the port of Beira, also categorically denied the Malawian claims.
Although there are limitations on the size of ship that can dock at Beira, the port is not congested. “There must be some other motive”, said Mesquita.
zako izo
I guess this is the truth-shortage of forex.The gvt cannot say the truth at the moment because they were advised to devalue Kwacha as a way of sorting out the problem of shortage of foreign currency.On a positive note the shortage of fuel to a small degree is reducing the emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere which causes global warming and climatic change.Secondly this problem is assisting me and some others to do a simple exercise-walking which is good to our health.Komanso tabwinotabwino tikumationa tikamayenda pansi.
Tell Governement to sort out the problem once and for all – not trying to say lots of things that will not bring the fuel to Malawi.
Please act without eeh!!! iyayi ichi koma iyayi!!! icho.
kodi bwanji???????????????????????????
It has been estimated that Kwacha is approx. 20% too strong. No sane person will buy/invest to Kwacha if he/she will lose 20% of the value of investment at the same moment when the deal has been done.
We have no US Dollars because Bingu used them all to buy his new PLANE!!!! DUHHHHH!!
Kodi Forex ikupita kuti a Mhlakho inu. I thought you call yourselves proffessionals, whats wrong with your planning, you are inconviniecing us alot please do something on this problem.
chuma chikuenda bwino kwambiri.