/ 15 August 2006

SA, Zim and Mozambique open new border post

The presidents of South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique will on Wednesday open a new border crossing to link a giant trans-national game park that includes South Africa’s famed Kruger National Park reserve.

South Africa’s Thabo Mbeki will join Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe and Mozambican President Armando Guebuza to “officially open the Giriyondo border post in Limpopo”, the South African Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday.

The three countries set up the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park under a December 2002 treaty.

It comprises Mozambique’s Limpopo National Park, South Africa’s Kruger National Park and the Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe and is spread over 40 000 square kilometres.

The new border post is aimed at fostering better ecosystem management and lifting “artificial barriers impeding the natural movement of wildlife”, the ministry said. — AFP