JOHANNESBURG, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola met with Mozambique's Minister of Interior Pascoal Ronda on Wednesday to mitigate the impact of the electoral protests in Mozambique.
At a joint press conference after the high-level meeting in Malelane, South Africa's Mpumalanga Province, Lamola said the discussions were constructive and cordial, and the two countries have resolved to mitigate disruptions at the ports of entry between the two nations.
The officials acknowledged that disruptions in the past weeks at the border areas have had a severe impact on the economy and the movement of goods between the two nations.
"Many companies have suffered losses due to the interruption in trade, and if the situation persists, there is a great risk of food and energy insecurity," Lamola said.
He said the two countries have agreed to enhance channels for frequent and continuous engagements at a diplomatic level to mitigate disruptions to trade and supply chains, jointly expedite and facilitate trade, and collaborate with all stakeholders to limit the impact of the disruptions on their operations.
Lamola said infrastructure will be protected by both sides, with a focus on strengthening bilateral relations in the areas of security and trade.
On Dec. 9, South Africa's Border Management Authority temporarily suspended operations at the Lebombo Port of Entry due to election-related protests in Mozambique near the border area. The border crossing point later reopened on Dec. 12.
