Zambezia province in Mozambique without funds to fight drug trafficking

A review by the Parliament of Mozambique said that the province of Zambezia, located in the center of the country, lacks the means to fight drug trafficking, making the area “prone” to drug trafficking networks.

“The province of Zambezia has 444 kilometers of coastline, but Inamar [Instituto Nacional do Mar] does not have the means of maritime patrol and inspection, ”says the final report, which is discussed in Parliament this Wednesday behind closed doors.

The investigation was prompted by allegations made in November in Parliament by MP Venancio Mondlane of the Mozambique National Resistance (Renamo), the main opposition party, that the MP and member of the Standing Committee of the Assembly of the Republic was involved in human trafficking. networks through the Macuse port.

The final report confirmed the preliminary information about the “lack of evidence” of the deputy’s involvement, but identified a number of problems.

“From the information received about the fragility of Zambezia’s borders, drug traffickers use the province’s wide coastline,” he said.

The Parliamentary Commission complained that it was prevented from “checking” a confiscated ship used by the drug trafficking network, but is in no doubt recommending “urgent” mapping of drug-trafficking activities.

The weaknesses noted in the paper are consistent with revelations and reports made over the years in international reports that put the entire 2,500 kilometers of Mozambique’s coastline (not just the Zambezian coastline) at risk.

Several organizations include Mozambique on global drug trafficking routes, mostly originating in Asia and crossing the Indian Ocean.