Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe with Zambian President Rupia Banda, during a trip by Mugabe to Zambia. The leaders are working to strengthen relations in the southern Africa region.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
From Lovemore Chikova in CHIRUNDU
Zimbabwe Herald
TRADE between Zimbabwe and Zambia is set to increase significantly following yesterday’s official opening of the Chirundu One-Stop Border Post, the first of its kind in Africa.
Under the one-stop border post concept, travellers will be cleared just once for passage into another country unlike the previous set-up in which they had to undergo immigration formalities on both sides of the border.
This development is expected to address delays as well as promote the smooth flow of goods through the removal of oft-perceived “restrictive” operational procedures.
In the long run, the project seeks to harmonise Sadc’s customs and immigration laws in the running of border posts.
Speaking at the opening ceremony here yesterday, President Mugabe said the border post would help stimulate economic activity as it was a critical avenue for the integration of the continent.
“The establishment of a one-stop border post will stimulate economic activity with the improvement of infrastructure, establishment of bulk storage facilities, a container depot and bonded warehouse,” he said.
“The increased economic activities will lead to the establishment of hotels, lodges and conference centres and trade centre investments, which will benefit the border community.”
Cde Mugabe, who is the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, said the initiative was envisaged to accelerate the harmonisation of the Common Market for East and Southern Africa (Comesa), Sadc and the East African community.
Other benefits included the reduction in congestion and transit turnaround time for traffic as well as significant cuts in transport costs.
“The envisaged efficiencies will reduce costs by integrating functions in a way that enables clients to access a bundle of services simultaneously,” he said, adding that the delays at border posts impacted negatively on continental trade.
The President revealed plans to establish a similar border post in Beitbridge, which is the country’s major transit point into South Africa. He urged business to take advantage of the new Zimbabwe-Zambia border arrangement.
“Zambia and Zimbabwe are twins, Siamese twins. Historically, we are one. Even Rhodes called us one when there was Southern Rhodesia and Northern Rhodesia,” he said.
“For our own struggle for liberation, Zimbabwe could not do without Zambia.’’
Speaking at the same ceremony, Zambian leader President Rupiah Banda said the launch of the border post was a landmark achievement in Comesa’s economic integration.
He said the region needed a complete overhaul of infrastructure and harmonisation of trade policies.
“The development of the structure we are seeing today is a milestone in facilitating trade in the Comesa region and beyond,” he said.
“We all know that a country or region that has inefficient transport and border clearance systems finds it difficult to trade effectively.”
President Banda said Chirundu was strategically positioned as a gateway to North African countries, making it ideal for the one-stop border post.
“The one-stop border post will not only benefit corporate business, but also small businesses,” he said.
“In recent years, there has been increased informal cross-border trade amongst our people. We should encourage this kind of trade as it is has a direct bearing on the livelihoods of our people.”
A few years ago, Sadc earmarked Chirundu for the pilot phase of the one-stop border post initiative.
It is meant to facilitate trade and the free movement of goods and services among the 15 member countries.
The Beitbridge Border Post linking South Africa and Zimbabwe is another port of entry that was chosen for the pilot phase of the project.
Beitbridge and Chirundu are some of sub-Saharan Africa’s busiest ports of entry with hundreds of southward and northward commercial trucks passing through the two border posts daily.
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