Mozambique: 64 Illegal Immigrants Suffocate

With the world facing the Covid pandemic and Africa’s resources and readiness under the spotlight, another harsh reality of the dire economic situation has shown its ugly face.

This comes after 64 suspected illegal immigrants were found dead inside a sealed shipping container in Mozambique.

“The truck, transporting illegal immigrants from Malawi, suspected to be Ethiopians, was stopped at the Mussacana weight bridge in Tete, and 64 illegal immigrants were found dead. Only 14 survived,” the senior official, who asked not be named, told AFP.

The news has sent shockwaves across the continent as illegal immigration remains a big problem across the globe. More details on this will be made available. Late last week, South Africa announced that they would be erecting a 40km fence at the Beitbridge border post to curb illegal immigration and also the spread of Covid-19.

Relating to the fence, South Africa’s Public Works and Infrastructure minister Patricia De Lille said

“This is to ensure that no undocumented or infected persons cross into the country and vice versa, in line with one of the measures announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in that South Africa’s borders and ports are to be secured with immediate effect,” said De Lille.

The names of the 64 illegal immigrants could not be named as Mozambican authorities say most of them were undocumented and they faced a mammoth task of identifying their country of origin and contact details. The driver of the truck is believed to be under arrest as authorities investigate the case further. More arrests are expected.