By a Correspondent
Long queues of trucks approaching the Beitbridge Border Post are being blamed on congestion on the Zimbabwean side of the border, with South African authorities insisting that operations on their side are running normally.
The Border Management Authority (BMA) and the South African Revenue Service (SARS) said there were no disruptions to immigration, customs or inspection services at Beitbridge, Zimbabwe’s busiest border crossing and a key gateway for regional trade.
“The BMA and the South African Revenue Service (SARS) wish to clarify that the current delays are not caused by operations on the South African side of the border,” the BMA said.
The South African agencies said immigration processing, customs operations, agriculture inspections, port health services and biosecurity controls were all functioning normally.
According to the BMA, information received from Zimbabwean authorities indicates that limited parking capacity on the Zimbabwean side is contributing to the delays.
The situation has reportedly been worsened by the large number of abnormal-load vehicles occupying available parking bays, limiting the space available for additional freight trucks entering Zimbabwe.
“A significant number of abnormal-load vehicles are occupying available parking space, reducing the port’s capacity to receive additional freight trucks,” the BMA said.
Delays in cargo processing by clearing agents on the Zimbabwean side have also contributed to the slow movement of trucks through the border, according to the South African authority.
“Furthermore, processing by clearing agents on the Zimbabwean side is taking longer than usual, which has slowed the movement of cargo across the border,” the BMA said.
The congestion is likely to concern Zimbabwean importers, freight companies and transport operators who depend on Beitbridge for the movement of goods between Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Beitbridge is one of the region’s most important trade corridors, linking Zimbabwe to South Africa and providing a key route for the movement of cargo to and from other countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
The BMA said it was engaging Zimbabwean authorities to find ways of easing the congestion and improving the movement of trucks through the border.
“The BMA is actively engaging its counterparts in Zimbabwe to identify and implement measures that will expedite the movement of trucks and alleviate the congestion,” it said.
The authority thanked freight companies, transport operators and motorists for their patience and cooperation, saying it would continue to provide updates as the situation develops.
