Ship of fools sails for Swazi port

04 September 2015 - 02:09 By Staff reporter

There has been some scepticism about the announcement by the government of landlocked Swaziland of its support for an ambitious plan to build a port. Last week Minister of Commerce and Industry Gideon Dlamini threw his weight behind Swazi billionaire Moses Motsa's project.The plan is to dig a 26km canal from the Indian Ocean across Mozambique, south of Maputo, to the Swazi town of Mlawula.The harbour would be big enough to berth four ships and would be built on between 15ha and 20ha at a cost of R30-billion, according to the Institute for Security Studies. The trouble is, the nearest Swaziland gets to the sea is more than 70km as the crow flies, not 26km, as Mozambique's national news agency AIM quickly pointed out. ..

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.