Why Dar, Maputo need secure, open borders

DAR ES SALAAM: THE 756-kilometre border separating Tanzania and Mozambique has never been merely a line on a map. For generations, it has connected families, traders, farmers and communities whose social and economic lives have evolved long before the emergence of modern nation states.

Markets on either side of the frontier have supplied goods to neighbouring communities, while cultural exchanges, intermarriages and shared traditions have strengthened bonds between the peoples of the two countries.

Today, that same border occupies an increasingly strategic position within Southern Africa. It serves as a gateway for regional trade, investment, tourism and people-to-people relations, while also forming part of wider efforts to deepen economic integration under the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Yet the very openness that has historically defined the Tanzania–Mozambique border also presents significant governance challenges.

Governments are increasingly confronted with the task of facilitating legitimate movement while protecting citizens from transnational crime, irregular migration and other emerging security threats.

Finding the right balance between openness and security has therefore become one of the defining policy issues facing both countries. Tanzania and Mozambique have established several official border posts designed to facilitate the lawful movement of people and goods.

These include the Kilambo–Singanamito crossing linking Mtwara and Palma, Mkunya–Namatili connecting Newala and Mueda, Negomano linking Nanyumbu with Mueda, the Songea–Kongelese route connecting Ruvuma and Niassa and the Mbamba Bay crossing across Lake Nyasa. These official entry points perform far more than immigration functions.

They support regional commerce by enabling customs clearance, facilitate tourism, provide secure channels for cross-border investment and allow families divided by international boundaries to maintain social connections within established legal frameworks.

Well-managed border infrastructure also contributes to national development. Efficient customs procedures encourage trade, reduce transaction costs for businesses and improve revenue collection.

Investors gain confidence when movement across borders is predictable and secure, while communities benefit from improved access to markets and public services.

As Tanzania continues implementing its Vision 2050 development agenda and Mozambique pursues economic transformation supported by its vast natural gas and mineral resources, efficient border management will become even more critical to sustaining regional economic growth.

The reality of informal crossings

Despite the existence of official crossing points, the Tanzania– Mozambique frontier remains characterised by extensive informal movement.

Available information identifies approximately 92 informal crossing routes spread across multiple border corridors, including Mtwara–Palma, Tandahimba– Nangade, Newala–Mueda, Masasi–Mueda, Nanyumbu–Mueda, Tunduru–Mecula, Songea–Niassa and Nyasa–Chiwindi.

The existence of these unofficial routes reflects geography as much as history. Vast forests, rivers, mountainous terrain and sparsely populated borderlands make comprehensive physical monitoring difficult.

More importantly, many communities have maintained cross-border interactions for centuries, often viewing the border as an administrative boundary rather than a barrier separating distinct societies. For many residents, informal crossings are motivated by practical considerations.

Families visit relatives, small-scale traders transport agricultural produce, livestock or household goods, while others seek healthcare, education or employment opportunities across the border.

However, even where intentions are legitimate, movement outside authorised entry points creates legal and administrative complications.

Immigration authorities cannot accurately document travellers, customs officials cannot assess goods, while governments lose the ability to monitor cross-border flows essential for planning, security and public service delivery. Irregular migration remains one of the most significant consequences of informal border crossings.

Many individuals mistakenly assume that shared cultural heritage or family relationships exempt them from immigration requirements.

In reality, international borders remain subject to national laws regardless of historical ties. Travelling without valid documentation exposes individuals to arrest, detention, fines or deportation.

The Tanzanian Embassy in Mozambique regularly provides consular assistance to citizens facing legal challenges after entering or residing in Mozambique without proper documentation.

Many such cases originate from people who crossed through unofficial routes believing immigration procedures were unnecessary.

The consequences extend beyond individual legal difficulties. Informal routes may also be exploited by organised criminal groups engaged in human trafficking, migrant smuggling, illegal wildlife trade, narcotics trafficking, illicit financial activities and other forms of transnational crime.

Criminal networks deliberately exploit areas where state presence is limited, using legitimate community movement to conceal illegal activities.

This makes effective border management not simply an immigration issue but a broader national security priority. Importantly, securing borders should never be interpreted as restricting lawful mobility.

Rather, it aims to ensure that legal movement remains safe while denying criminal organisations opportunities to exploit vulnerable communities.

ALSO READ: Borders are open, so should your business be

Humanitarian concerns require coordinated responses

Northern Mozambique, particularly Cabo Delgado Province, has experienced security challenges that have displaced thousands of people over recent years.

Humanitarian situations naturally generate increased cross-border movement as affected populations seek safety, healthcare, food assistance or temporary refuge with relatives.

Tanzania has demonstrated compassion by working alongside humanitarian partners to assist vulnerable populations whenever circumstances require. Yet humanitarian assistance operates most effectively within structured legal frameworks.

Unregulated movement through informal routes complicates efforts to identify vulnerable individuals, deliver assistance efficiently and ensure accountability among agencies providing relief. It also increases the risk that criminal actors could exploit humanitarian movements for illegal purposes.

Governments, humanitarian organisations, civil society and local communities therefore share responsibility for balancing humanitarian principles with immigration regulations and national security requirements.

Compassion and legal compliance are complementary rather than contradictory objectives.

Effective coordination enables assistance to reach those genuinely in need while maintaining public confidence in humanitarian operations.

Economic costs of weak border management

Border security is often discussed primarily in terms of law enforcement, yet its economic implications are equally significant. Unofficial trade channels reduce government revenues through unpaid customs duties, taxes and other regulatory fees.

These losses affect public finances that support healthcare, education, infrastructure and other essential services. Informal trade can also create unfair competition for businesses that comply with licensing requirements, customs regulations and taxation obligations.

Over time, this undermines confidence in formal markets and discourages investment. Conversely, strengthening official border infrastructure creates economic opportunities.

Efficient border services encourage businesses to use legal trade routes, improve logistics efficiency and strengthen supply chains linking Tanzania, Mozambique and the wider SADC region.

Modern customs systems reduce delays while improving transparency, making cross-border commerce more attractive for legitimate traders.

Secure borders therefore contribute directly to economic competitiveness rather than acting as obstacles to development.

Cooperation remains the strongest defence

No country can effectively manage shared borders in isolation. Recognising this reality, Tanzanian and Mozambican authorities continue strengthening bilateral cooperation across immigration, customs, policing and local government institutions.

Recent discussions held in Cabo Delgado Province between the Tanzanian Ambassador to Mozambique and provincial authorities reinforced the importance of closer collaboration among border regions.

A central theme emerging from these engagements was the need to distinguish clearly between law-abiding citizens engaged in legitimate economic activities and individuals involved in criminal enterprises.

Such differentiation is essential. Most border residents contribute positively to local economies through agriculture, trade, transport and small businesses.

Policies that unnecessarily restrict lawful movement would undermine livelihoods while weakening historical social ties.

Instead, effective border governance requires intelligence-led approaches that target criminal networks without disrupting legitimate commerce or community interactions.

Information sharing between security agencies, joint patrols where appropriate, harmonised immigration procedures and stronger cooperation among local authorities can significantly improve border management outcomes.

Community participation is equally important. Border residents often possess valuable knowledge regarding suspicious activities and changing movement patterns.

Building trust between authorities and communities enhances early warning mechanisms while encouraging compliance with immigration laws.

The Tanzania–Mozambique border is becoming increasingly important within a rapidly evolving regional economic landscape.

Large-scale energy investments in northern Mozambique, expanding transport corridors linking East and Southern Africa, improvements to Tanzanian ports and growing regional trade all point towards increased cross border mobility in coming years.

These developments create enormous opportunities. Improved connectivity can stimulate investment, create employment, expand tourism and strengthen regional value chains.

Border communities stand to benefit significantly from enhanced economic integration if supporting infrastructure keeps pace with growing demand.

However, increased movement also requires stronger institutions capable of managing more complex migration flows and emerging security risks.

Future border management will therefore depend not only on physical infrastructure but also on modern technology, digital immigration systems, coordinated customs procedures and continuous institutional cooperation.

Building a secure and open future

Experience from the Tanzania– Mozambique border offers several broader lessons for African regional integration.

Historical ties between neighbouring communities should reinforce respect for national laws rather than justify their circumvention.

Legal compliance protects both travellers and states while ensuring that cross-border opportunities remain sustainable.

Secondly, border security cannot be delivered by governments alone. Success depends upon partnerships involving security agencies, local communities, businesses, humanitarian organisations and individual citizens.

Thirdly, investment in official border infrastructure remains one of the most effective ways of encouraging lawful movement while discouraging informal crossings. Efficient services reduce incentives for travellers to seek unofficial routes.

Finally, regional cooperation remains indispensable.

Shared challenges require shared solutions built upon trust, dialogue and coordinated action. For Tanzania and Mozambique, the border should continue serving as a bridge connecting people and economies rather than becoming a source of insecurity or division.

Protecting that vision requires sustained commitment from both governments and citizens alike.

The objective is not to build barriers, but to create a border that remains open to legitimate travellers, welcoming to investors, supportive of humanitarian principles and resilient against criminal exploitation.

Achieving that balance will ensure that the Tanzania–Mozambique frontier continues to symbolise friendship, stability and shared prosperity, while contributing to the broader aspirations of regional integration and sustainable development across Southern Africa.