US embassy cable - 05MAPUTO1343

UNCLAS MAPUTO 001343 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
STATE FOR AF/S - TREGER 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CVIS, PGOV, PREL, SMIG, ZA, MZ 
SUBJECT: MOZAMBIQUE AND ZAMBIA SIGN AGREEMENT WAIVING 
VISITOR VISAS, AGREEMENT WITH SWAZILAND TO TAKE EFFECT 
 
REF: MAPUTO 510 
 
1. (U) On October 7 Mozambican Foreign Minister Abreu and 
Zambian Labor Minister Nalumango signed an agreement waiving 
the requirement of visitor visas for nationals traveling 
between the two countries. The agreement is expected to go 
into effect by the end of 2005. Speaking after the signing, 
FM Abreu said that the abolition of visas was in keeping with 
regional efforts to facilitate travel among SADC (Southern 
Africa Development Community) states. Mozambique and South 
Africa abolished visa requirements earlier this year, and a 
similar agreement with Swaziland will take effect on October 
15. Mozambique also has visa-free travel with Botswana. 
 
2. (SBU) Comment: Some commentators in the local media 
complain about rising crime, and blame it on the ease by 
which criminals from South Africa and elsewhere now can enter 
Mozambique. While the crime rate here is high, we, however, 
have not seen any increase in attacks clearly attributable to 
easier travel in the region. 
La Lime