Mozambique appoints heads of the Main Food Safety Inspectorate

A new statement issued by the Mozambique Information Office (Gabingo) reported on the return of more Mozambican citizens to their country due to violence directed at immigrants in South Africa. The arrival of another 65 nationals was expected by the end of the day, including 14 from Witbank, in the Mpumalanga province, as part of ongoing support and repatriation operations.

Situation in different provinces

Local authorities in the Western Cape province notified the Mozambique consulate in Cape Town about the presence of 48 Mozambican citizens, including four children, who expressed the intention to return to the country. Gabinfo also confirmed that citizens continue to be received at the Mozambique High Commission in Pretoria, covering those from Johannesburg, Pretoria, Gauteng, and other areas.

Assistance and challenges faced

Gabinfo detailed that the assistance and repatriation process continues for Mozambican citizens affected by acts of intimidation and violence in various provinces of the Republic of South Africa. In Gauteng, a Mozambican citizen who gave birth at the High Commission facilities was discharged with the newborn in good health, under the supervision of the authorities.

The institution also reported the persistence of vulnerability cases, where Mozambican citizens lost housing or were evicted from their workplaces due to increased persecution and migration inspection operations.

Government response and crisis context

Incidents of aggression against foreigners prompted the Mozambican Government to intensify both consular assistance and repatriation operations, maintaining constant monitoring through diplomatic and consular representations in South Africa. Anti-immigrant South African protesters imposed a deadline of June 30 for all foreigners to leave the country, while the South African government had announced restrictions on migration policies and enhanced security.

The Mozambican President, Daniel Chapo, acknowledged on Wednesday the worsening of xenophobia in South Africa, resulting from violent incidents involving Mozambicans, and assured that logistical means were available for the reception and repatriation of victims. The Government of Mozambique disclosed that, in the latest wave of xenophobic attacks, at least 283 Mozambicans suffered assaults, had their residences burned, and property vandalized. The following day, the Mozambican President reported that 38 Mozambican citizens legally residing in South Africa were assaulted and expelled from their homes.

It is currently estimated that Mozambique has about 300,000 citizens residing in South Africa, and the Presidency communicated that thousands have already returned to the country due to the violence.

Telecommunications operators in Mozambique are requesting innovative solutions and price stability to address accessibility challenges and ensure business sustainability.

Vodacom Statements

Simon Katikari, CEO of Vodacom, a private mobile telephony company in Mozambique, emphasized that despite the accessibility challenge, it is imperative to find innovative solutions. He stated that the implementation of these solutions depends on a stable pricing environment that allows for investment.

Katikari made these statements during the Fifth National Communications Conference, held in Maputo on Thursday, where he participated in the fifth panel focused on 'Communication Service Tariffs and Competitive Dynamics in the Market.' The representative highlighted that high prices represent a significant obstacle to the sustainability of companies in the sector, especially mobile telephony, calling on the regulator to intervene to balance accessibility with the need for investment.

Market and Infrastructure Needs

The CEO stressed the importance of a pricing structure and discipline that supports lasting investment, emphasizing the role of the regulator as an arbiter to organize the market and make it attractive to investors. Katikari also mentioned that authorities recently approved the sharing of infrastructure and roaming services between companies, a development he considers crucial to expand more commercially to reduce costs and improve service quality.

He warned that since the equipment used by the companies is entirely imported from various parts of the globe, maintaining service availability in the country becomes unsustainable. According to Katikari, when costs exceed revenues or products are sold at very low prices for long periods, network quality degrades, future investment in connectivity decreases, and consequently, the service worsens, potentially leading to the cessation of operations due to these problems, aggravated by the fuel crisis.

Other Companies' Proposals

For his part, Muhammed Mussa, Executive Board Chairman of the state-owned TMCEL, called for the creation of conditions that ensure the reduction of communication service prices, aligning wholesale market policies with national reality. Mussa observed that roaming network services, initiated in May 2026, are contributing to the expansion of national coverage, but advocated for strengthening this aspect, along with reinforcing regulatory predictability and implementing sustainable digital inclusion and innovation policies.

Francisco Chate, director of the private company Movitel, suggested creating a tariff policy aimed at ensuring financial return to operators given the current challenges. Furthermore, he proposed reducing import taxes to promote balance and facilitate access to services in rural areas. Chate specified that priority would be given to remote areas, advocating for a shorter timeframe for tax reduction to allow for medium-term investment recovery, as well as reducing protectionist taxes in the communications sector.