Mozambique and Tanzania will launch a joint initiative for developing their common border next year to make it clearer and better managed. It is thought to cost some R6.8 million or about $400,000, and is another indication of the growing cooperation between the two Southern African Development Community (SADC) member countries. The project will include the installation of intermediate markers along the land border and the re-establishment of the river border along the Rovuma River (about 320 kilometres) between the two nations, reports Club of Mozambique and Portuguese news agency Lusa.
The news came after a bilateral meeting in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where the implementation of the border initiative was discussed between the two authorities. Both governments agreed to proceed with the project in a spirit of cooperation and mutual understanding, said Mozambique’s director of borders, Armando Chavana, at the National Institute of the Sea and Borders. The process would be to establish a clear definition of the land border with the construction of intermediate markers to make the border more visible and easier to identify,” he explained.
The project will help strengthen border management and prevent possible cross-border conflict by providing more clarity on the boundaries of the communities and authorities on both sides, Chavana added. The Rovuma River has been an important geographical and economic feature for communities along the border for a long time, and has been a very important feature in the history of the border between the two countries. Re-affirming the river boundary, therefore, is seen as crucial in order to keep relations peaceful and facilitate trans-border activities.
The costs of the project are to be shared equally between Mozambique and Tanzania in terms of both operational and logistical costs. This involves the deployment of technical teams, transport, and other resources needed at the time of the implementation process. Chavana said that the project would be implemented in a “parallel” way, with an equal number of technicians and vehicles from each country to ensure an equal level of participation during its implementation.
The border clarification project follows the growing trend of African nations to focus on border cooperation for enhancing regional integration, security, and economic growth. Border demarcation is considered essential to facilitate trade, enhance security coordination, and prevent conflicts over unclear borders. The project will also be expected to improve cooperation, among others, in the areas of natural resources management and the movement of persons and goods between Mozambique and Tanzania.
The bilateral talks were recently held in a constructive and harmonious manner, the officials said, highlighting the high level of diplomatic relations between the two neighbouring countries. Chavana emphasized the need for ongoing dialogue and cooperation between the two governments to further develop the management and understanding of the shared border, and that both sides showed a strong commitment to this process.
Technical preparations and coordination have been made, and the project is anticipated to begin next year. The project will be completed by the end of 2009, and will deliver a more explicit border framework which could be used as a template for regional cooperation on border management in Southern and Eastern Africa.
