The Beitbridge Border Post, one of Africa’s busiest land crossings, clears heavy-duty trucks in three to six hours and light vehicles in about an hour, a Southern African Development Community (SADC) delegation found during a recent assessment. The evaluation aimed to enhance efficiency and trade facilitation at the key transit point between Zimbabwe and South Africa.
From February 12 to 14, a SADC team led by Alcides Monteiro, the bloc’s Senior Programme Officer for Customs, conducted a study to assess the operational effectiveness of the border. The delegation examined clearance times, ICT connectivity, and the implementation of Coordinated Border Management (CBM) and the One Stop Border Post (OSBP) concept.
Monteiro noted Beitbridge’s strategic role in the North-South Corridor, a trade route linking Durban, South Africa, to Kasumbalesa, Democratic Republic of Congo. The border post, which operates 24 hours a day, was identified by SADC as critical to improving trade flows in the region.
Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) Commissioner for Customs and Excise Batsirai Chadzingwa highlighted ongoing efforts to enhance efficiency, noting that the border post now has the capacity to process up to 1,000 trucks daily. He also showcased infrastructure upgrades, including dedicated traffic terminals, warehouses, cold storage, and modern ICT facilities.
The assessment aligns with commitments made at the 13th Ministerial Task Force on Regional Economic Integration in 2013, where SADC ministers pledged to streamline border processes.
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