Beitbridge facreight terminal opening delayed

Beitbridge Bureau
Intermittent power cuts in Beitbridge town have forced the Zimborders Consortium to delay for a few days the opening of the new commercial freight terminal, phase one of the US$300 million Beitbridge Border Post modernisation that was supposed to have been officially opened yesterday.

Zimborders Consortium is implementing the modernisation of the border post in three phases under a build, operate and transfer arrangement with the Government that will stretch over 17 years.

So far, US$65 million has been spent on the first phase of roads, weigh-bridges, warehouses, the new freight terminal, toll rooms, water suppression system and the upgrading of ICT facilities.

The second phase includes the construction of the terminals for light motor vehicles, buses and pedestrians, while the third phase includes upgrading Beitbridge’s water and sewer facilities and building 264 houses for border workers.

All phases are to be finished over the next year.

Zimborders chief executive Mr Francois Diedrechsen said the freight terminal’s opening had been pushed forward by a few days to allow time to troubleshoot all the key areas.

“We had some power disruption issues over the weekend, which we have now sorted out,” he said.

“So, we are completing final system dry runs and some tweaks and will go live with tolling most likely on Friday morning.

“We are confident all the teething problems will be addressed in the shortest possible time. The feedback from transporters and other border users is encouraging.”