The state-owned Portos e Caminhos de Ferro de Moçambique (CFM) has reported financial losses of approximately 10 million euros (12 million dollars). This deficit is a direct result of the prolonged suspension of train traffic on the Limpopo Line following severe flooding in southern Mozambique.
The Limpopo Line, a critical route connecting landlocked Zimbabwe to the port of Maputo, has been non-operational for three months. CFM Chairman Agostinho Langa stated that around 130 trains have been canceled, significantly impacting the transport of minerals, such as chromium, as well as essential goods like fuel and grain.
Restoration efforts are currently underway, with train services expected to resume on May 1st. CFM estimates the preliminary rehabilitation costs at 20 to 25 million dollars. Langa noted that the company saved about 15 million dollars from their initial estimate by deferring some hydraulic passage repairs to a second phase.
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Beyond the Limpopo Line, the rainy season also caused disruptions on the Ressano Garcia and Goba lines, which link Maputo to South Africa and Eswatini, respectively. The southern region of Mozambique has been hit by repeated waves of flooding throughout the early months of the year.
The impact of this year’s rainy season, which began in October and continues through April, has been devastating. The National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction (INGD) reports 311 deaths, 17 missing, and over 1 million people affected by the severe weather across the country.
