Business leaders in Sofala province express concerns over issues affecting the Beira Corridor's performance, including numerous police checkpoints and slow customs processing. Félix Machado of the Beira Commercial Association highlights the lack of cabotage and its impact on port traffic and costs. The Pan-African Federation of Transit Agents echoes these concerns, citing risks of vandalism. Jan De Vries of Cornelder de Moçambique suggests temporary traffic management solutions while awaiting funding for a new access road.

Mozambican presidential candidates have launched their electoral campaigns with promises to address key issues such as healthcare, corruption, and economic development. Lutero Simango of the Movimento Democrático de Moçambique pledges to produce medicines locally and hire more doctors, while Daniel Chapo of Frelimo promises an inclusive government and infrastructure improvements. Renamo's Celestina Bomba focuses on fighting corruption and improving social services, and independent candidate Venâncio Mondlane aims to tackle kidnappings and terrorism. The campaigns highlight the ongoing challenges of corruption and poor governance in Mozambique.

Residents of six districts in Mozambique's Sofala province are facing increasing attacks from wild animals, particularly elephants and hippos, leading to fatalities and agricultural devastation. A recent incident involved a pregnant woman being killed by an elephant in Machanga district. The local population is living in fear, with the situation exacerbated by a tripling of the hippo population, a protected species. The conflict is attributed to habitat disturbance from deforestation and mining. Environmentalist Manuel Jorge emphasizes the need for land-use planning to prevent human settlement in protected areas, which contributes to these conflicts.

Venâncio Mondlane, a presidential candidate in Mozambique, announced a national strike to protest the preliminary election results favoring Frelimo's candidate, Daniel Chapo. Mondlane emphasized the peaceful nature of the strike, aiming to halt economic activities without causing destruction. His visit to Beira, a politically significant city, was met with a heavy police presence, which he criticized as excessive. Mondlane's campaign is gathering evidence to challenge the election results, which he claims do not reflect the voters' will, and plans to submit a protest to the Constitutional Council.

A canoe capsized in the Zambezi River in Sofala province, Mozambique, resulting in nine deaths and three missing persons. The incident occurred on October 15, involving 12 people traveling from Caia district to Moto island. This follows a previous boat accident in Nampula province that left 98 dead. Maritime Administrator Daniel Bango attributes such accidents to bad weather and the poor condition of vessels.

The city of Beira is expected to witness a fierce contest in the upcoming municipal elections in October, with analysts giving a slight edge to the Movimento Democrático de Moçambique (MDM). The MDM's candidate, Albano Carige, will face off against Frelimo's Stella Pinto Zeca, Renamo's Geraldo Carvalho, and Nova Democracia's Lino Eustáquio. Analysts believe the elections will be closely contested due to the popularity of the candidates. The elections are scheduled for October 11.

The Movimento Democrático de Moçambique (MDM) is forming a political alliance with four other parties, including two dissident organizations from Renamo, to maintain control of Beira in the upcoming municipal elections on October 11. The alliance aims to consolidate opposition power and create synergies for the 2024 elections with the goal of unseating the ruling party, Frelimo. MDM spokesperson Ismael Nhacucué emphasized the strategic importance of these partnerships, while Vitano Singano, president of the Partido Revolução Democrática, expressed unconditional support for MDM, citing Beira as the opposition's capital and a model of good governance.

Over 100,000 residents of Gorongosa district in Mozambique's Sofala province lack access to education, income-generating initiatives, and social assistance due to missing identity documents lost during the political-military conflict between Mozambique's Defense Forces and Renamo. The district government acknowledges the severity of the situation and is collaborating with the justice sector to launch a free mass civil registration campaign. The lack of documents prevents residents from obtaining formal employment, benefiting from income-generating projects, and accessing government social benefits. Residents like Maria Ndapassoa and Tome José express frustration and despair over bureaucratic hurdles and the impact on their lives. The district administrator, Pedro Mussengue, emphasizes the urgent need for free registration, especially for children and adults in schools.

A hemorrhagic conjunctivitis outbreak in Sofala has infected over 600 healthcare professionals, more than 10,000 students, and hundreds of teachers, exacerbated by a shortage of medications. The education sector is significantly impacted, with school attendance dropping due to fear of contagion. Traditional treatments, some involving animal feces and urine, pose severe health risks. The outbreak, first detected in Beira, has spread to seven provinces, with recent health campaigns reducing daily infection rates. The Ministry of Health continues to monitor and address the situation.

Approximately 18,000 households (89,000 people) in Caia district, Sofala province, central Mozambique, are facing food insecurity due to floods and Cyclone Freddy, which devastated 30,000 hectares of crops. Local administrator Nobre dos Santos reports that the population is receiving aid from the state and humanitarian organizations. Additionally, elephant populations have been destroying agricultural fields, exacerbating the food crisis.