Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) on Monday hosted senior customs officials from Benin, Cameroon and Nigeria, as well as representatives from the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), on a benchmarking mission to the modernised Beitbridge Border Post, which has become a model for border management and trade facilitation on the continent.
The visit follows the successful transformation of Beitbridge Border Post under a public-private partnership between the Government and the Zimborders Consortium, a project that has significantly improved the movement of goods and people while enhancing revenue collection and service delivery.
Speaking at the opening of the benchmarking mission, Zimra Acting Commissioner for Customs and Excise, Mrs Lonto Ndlovu, said the visit underscored Africa’s shared commitment to improving customs administration and promoting intra-African trade.
“Permit me to extend a very warm Zimbabwean welcome to our distinguished guests from Benin, Cameroon, Nigeria and Afreximbank,” said Mrs Ndlovu.
“Your presence here reflects our collective commitment to advancing trade facilitation, strengthening customs cooperation and building a more integrated and prosperous Africa.”
The high-level delegation included Afreximbank Director for Trade Facilitation and Investment Promotion, Dr Gainmore Zanamwe, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Dr Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, Director General of Customs for Cameroon, Mr Fongod Edwin Nuvaga, and Director General of Customs for Benin, Colonel Raouf Malèhossou Aboudou.
Representatives from Zimbabwe’s Ministries of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, and Industry and Commerce also attended the event.
Mrs Ndlovu commended Afreximbank for facilitating the benchmarking mission, saying the continental financial institution continued to champion practical initiatives aimed at unlocking intra-African trade.
“Today’s programme represents much more than a study visit. It is an opportunity for honest dialogue, professional exchange and mutual learning. Customs administrations across the continent face similar challenges of facilitating legitimate trade while safeguarding revenue and borders,” she said.
She said Beitbridge Border Post had undergone a remarkable transformation through strategic investment, digital innovation and the concession model implemented in partnership with the Zimborders Consortium.
“Beitbridge Border Post has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past few years as the Government sought to improve the movement of goods and people while enhancing transparency, revenue collection and service delivery,” she said.
“We share it as a journey characterised by continuous improvement, innovation and valuable lessons learned. We remain equally eager to learn from the experiences, innovations and best practices represented by every delegation.”
The benchmarking mission includes presentations on the Beitbridge Border Modernisation Programme, findings from a technical mission, guided tours of the upgraded facilities and a leadership dialogue on best practices in customs administration.
Mrs Ndlovu also paid tribute to the various border management agencies working at Beitbridge for embracing integrated border management.
“Increasingly, our success will not be measured solely by how effectively we control our borders, but by how efficiently we enable legitimate trade, support economic growth and connect African markets,” she said.
She said every partnership forged and every lesson shared during the mission would help advance the aspirations of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and support the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which seeks to boost trade and economic integration across the continent.
