The devastating floods in Mozambique have left at least 13 people dead, displaced thousands of others from their homes, destroyed crops and cattle and left its bustling tourism sector counting its losses.   

The National Highway Number One (EN1), one of Mozambique’s most vital routes for tourism and trade, will remain closed for at least two weeks.  

TV Gloria Mozambique reported on Friday that João Matlombe, Mozambique’s Minister of Transport and Logistics, said floodwaters remain too high and damage too severe for the EN1 to be passable for at least the next 15 days.  

Matlombe said the road has six deep cuts in the stretch that connects Maputo to Gaza. 

Road freight ban triggers shortages  

The disruption has already led to shortages of basic food items in the south, as trucks are unable to reach affected areas.    

The CEO of Road Freight Association in South Africa, Gavin Kelly, said severe flooding in southern and central Mozambique has prompted authorities to ban all vehicles from roads between Maputo and Gaza provinces.  

He said the main roads in the south have been cut off, particularly the EN1, which runs the entire length of the country and is the only link to the flooded north.  

“According to Mozambican sources, the suspension of vehicles using the EN1, particularly road freight transport, has already led to shortages and price hikes, including basic foodstuffs such as coconuts and fuel, even as far as the north-western city of Tete, more than 1 500km from Maputo,” said Kelly.  

He added that road conditions and freight operations along the EN1 remain severely curtailed while flooding continues.  

Alternative routes and delays 

“These circumstances will delay deliveries and road freight operations along the EN1. There may be alternative routes that some transporters and local logistical companies have become aware of, or are sufficiently dry, to utilise. The association relies on intel from the authorities in Mozambique for updates on the use of routes.”   

Government warns against land travel  

The minister has urged carriers and passengers not to attempt to travel to Maputo or leave the capital by land, warning that the concentration of vehicles and people in Gaza province is creating additional logistical pressure in a region already overwhelmed with providing assistance to families affected by floods.  

The report stated that a preliminary survey by the government indicated that approximately 150km of national roads are almost completely destroyed, requiring deep interventions, while approximately 5 000km of roads are affected across the national territory.  

Club of Mozambique reported that more than 180 000 hectares of agricultural production waere flooded and over 150 000 heads of livestock were lost.  

Hardest hit  

Maputo, Gaza, Sofala and Nampula are the provinces most affected by floods, with severe cuts in several strategic road links, including sections of the EN1 and regional roads that ensure connectivity between the south, the centre and the north of the country.  

The report said the government had activated alternative routes of supply and mobility, resorting to air, rail and sea transport.  

From Saturday, maritime cabotage operations between the Maputo port and Gaza province for food transportation will begin, while flights to Gaza, Inhambane and Vilankulo have been strengthened.  

Tourism businesses hit hard 

High water levels on roads have blocked off access to holiday resorts in Xai-Xai and Macaneta.  

The inaccessibility of the roads has also impacted South Africans travelling to the area.  

Carla Heyneke, the owner of El Paso, told Caxton Network News that her lodge in Macaneta was under about 1.5m of water.  

Heyneke is originally from South Africa and has been living in Mozambique for 25 years. 

“The lodge was built to give off the look of a cowboy town, and as part of that experience, we have 14 horses. We offer horseback riding trails to the beach. Our stables have been destroyed and we moved our horses to a neighbouring property. The kitchen in our chalets was damaged,” said Heyneke.  

She added that many of their clients had donated their deposits towards the rebuilding of the lodge.  

“Many of our staff have been affected by the flooding. My priority is to ensure they have enough food and water for themselves and their families. The water levels are dropping each day by 20cm and by the end of this week, I will do an assessment of the damage to the property. One of the first structures we will rebuild is the stables.”  

Mozambician local Ernesto Pita, the manager of Reef Resort in Xai-Xai, north of Maputo, said most of the buildings are submerged.  

“The resort is not flooded because we are on high-ground, but the town and the roads leading to the resort are submerged. The main road from South Africa, the EN1, has been cut off. We have had to cancel bookings and postpone our guests’ trips,” explained Pita.  

He said they have also been hit financially.  

“We are still recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic and recent protests. The flooding is going to set us back further. At the moment, we have 85 staff members and many of them lost their homes. We are trying to get them accommodation and food.”  

Bookings cancelled as routes remain cut off 

Chris Grobler, a 50% shareholder of Lugar Do Mar, who is also originally from South Africa, said his resort was cut off from the mainland. They are also still recovering from the pandemic and last year’s political riots.   

“I had 35 guests coming in for an international conference and I had to cancel it. This is a disaster.”  

*Correction: This article was updated on January 28 to clarify that Chris Grobler is a 50% shareholder of Lugar Do Mar, not the sole owner.

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