BY THEMBA ZWANE
MBABANE– Eswatini has been cited among the countries expected to benefit from a major port infrastructure project in neighbouring Mozambique, where President Daniel Chapo has launched US$150 million (approximately E2.48 billion) dredging works aimed at improving access to the Port of Maputo.
The project seeks to deepen the port’s access channel to accommodate larger vessels, improve operational efficiency and increase cargo-handling capacity, strengthening Mozambique’s connections to regional and international markets.
According to a report published by Club of Mozambique on October 13, 2026, the project forms part of a broader investment programme worth approximately US$2 billion intended to expand and modernise the country’s port infrastructure.
President Chapo highlighted the regional importance of the Port of Maputo, which serves Mozambique’s economy while connecting industrial and production centres in South Africa, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Botswana and other countries in the region to international markets.
The development is significant for Eswatini because of the country’s reliance on regional transport and logistics networks to move goods to and from international markets. Improved maritime access and more efficient port operations could create opportunities for smoother cargo movement through regional corridors, although the actual benefits will depend on logistics costs, transport capacity and the efficiency of cross-border systems.
The dredging project is intended to complement investments in infrastructure on land by improving maritime access for larger ships. The expansion is also expected to strengthen the Port of Maputo’s ability to handle growing cargo volumes and support regional trade.
In 2025, the port handled approximately 32 million tonnes of cargo, according to figures presented by President Chapo.
Addressing the strategic importance of the investment, Chapo said Mozambique needed to transform its geographical position into an economic advantage and improve the competitiveness of its transport infrastructure.
“Our challenge is to transform geography into economy and strategic location into competitiveness,” he said.
The President also pointed to investments in the expansion of the container terminal managed by DP World, the Matola coal terminal and other facilities handling minerals and general cargo.
He stressed that the development of ports and transport corridors should contribute to domestic production, industrialisation and economic diversification rather than simply facilitating the movement of goods destined for foreign markets.
“Our corridors cannot simply be channels through which wealth passes. They must be corridors where wealth is produced, transformed, retained, and distributed,” Chapo said.
For Eswatini, the emphasis on turning transport corridors into drivers of production and industrial development is relevant to efforts to strengthen trade links and improve access to international markets. More efficient regional infrastructure can support businesses by improving the movement of imports and exports, provided the benefits translate into competitive transport and handling costs.
The Mozambican government has also been pursuing digital improvements to complement physical infrastructure development. In July 2026, the country launched its first Maputo Port Community System, designed to improve information-sharing and streamline procedures associated with the movement of goods.
Chapo said cargo needed to move efficiently not only within the port but also after being unloaded, across rail and road networks and through border systems.
He further emphasised the importance of digitalising services and ensuring that the systems used by institutions involved in logistics operations could work together.
The dredging works therefore represent part of a wider effort to improve the efficiency of the regional trade network, with Eswatini among the countries connected to the Port of Maputo.
The project’s stated budget of US$150 million translates to approximately E2.48 billion in emalangeni, based on the conversion provided. This amount represents the cost of the dredging project and should not be interpreted as funding allocated directly to Eswatini.
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(Courtesy Pic)
