Business Correspondent
The Cuchamano-Nyamapanda border post between Zimbabwe and Mozambique is set for further improvements after the Southern African Development Community (SADC) conducted an assessment aimed at strengthening trade facilitation and the movement of goods and people.
According to SADC, a technical team carried out a study visit at the border post from September 21 to 25 as part of efforts to improve efficiency at key regional trade corridors.
The assessment focused on border operating hours, transit procedures, coordinated border management, progress towards implementing the One Stop Border Post (OSBP) concept, information exchange between agencies and border infrastructure.
The border post is an important link along both the North-South and Beira corridors, serving not only Zimbabwe and Mozambique but also facilitating trade and the movement of people from countries including Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, South Africa and Zambia.
SADC said the border post is currently operating every day from 6am to 8pm, a development which has helped speed up the clearance of goods and reduce congestion.
The facility is currently handling an average of 80 trucks a day, according to the regional bloc.
The assessment brought together customs, immigration, standards authorities, sanitary and phytosanitary services, police, port health, road authorities and other stakeholders from Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
The stakeholders examined ways of improving the movement of vehicles, goods and people while strengthening compliance and border security.
SADC said the improvements were in line with the objectives of the SADC Protocol on Trade and the World Trade Organisation’s Trade Facilitation Agreement, particularly efforts to reduce clearance times, costs and compliance risks.
The assessment also provided an opportunity for authorities from the two countries to identify operational challenges and discuss practical measures to improve the border’s performance.
Recommendations from the mission are expected to focus on improved coordination among border agencies, streamlined transit procedures, enhanced information sharing and stronger implementation of coordinated border management.
The recommendations will be submitted to SADC policy meetings for consideration and guidance.
SADC said the developments at Cuchamano-Nyamapanda demonstrated the importance of cooperation between member states in facilitating regional trade and economic integration.
The border post is strategically important for Zimbabwe as it provides a direct link to Mozambique’s transport network and the Port of Beira, one of the country’s key gateways for imports and exports.
