Visas abolished

An agreement abolishing visas between Zimbabwe and Mozambique signed at the weekend would improve the lives of people living along the common border, a senior Mozambican official told IRIN. Mozambican Foreign Minister Leonardo Santos Simao on Monday said the reason for the move was "to ensure the smooth circulation of goods and people across the two borders". "For many Mozambicans living in the along the border, it was very difficult to cross into Zimbabwe as they often encountered a lot of bureaucracy. Now that there has been more dialogue between ourselves and the Zimbabwean authorities, these people can travel freely to see their relatives," he explained. In recent months the media have reported on growing tension between Zimbabwean soldiers and Mozambican traders in the border area of Kuchamano in the western Mozambican province of Tete. The traders accused immigration officials of harassment and last year the Mozambique government launched an inquiry into claims that a Zimbabwean soldier had shot and killed a trader returning to Mozambique from Zimbabwe. Although the Zimbabweans admitted to shooting the trader "accidentally", they claimed they were trying to stamp out illegal smuggling. "There have been a few incidents of shooting along the border and both countries have been communicating frequently about this," said Simao. "But it is not correct to say that political relations between us are deteriorating. Most of these incidents - where the Zimbabweans have shot at people - were meant to deter illegal traders. They are targeting criminals." He confirmed that police in both countries had requested the authorities to demarcate the 4,212 km common border, which in some parts lacks fencing. Zimbabwean price controls imposed on basic foods, such as cooking oil, salt, etc, have made it cheaper to buy these products there, and have provided an incentive for traders to smuggle goods across the border, which the Zimbabwean authorities say is fuelling local shortages while avoiding customs controls. The scale of the smuggling has reportedly led to the sales of more expensive Mozambican-produced sugar dropping significantly.