Online Reporter
THE decision by Zimbabwe and Zambia to further liberalise trade, reduce or remove tariffs on goods, and operationalise 24-hour border posts at Chirundu and Victoria Falls marks one of the most progressive steps in Southern Africa’s economic diplomacy in recent years.
These decisions were made on Friday at the inaugural session of the Bi-National Commission held in Harare and co-chaired by President Mnangagwa and his Zambian counterpart, President Hakainde Hichilema.
Beyond the symbolism of cooperation, these measures reflect a mature appreciation of what genuine regional integration requires: tearing down bureaucratic walls that have long stood in the way of free movement, economic efficiency and shared prosperity.
At a time when Africa is striving to implement the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Zimbabwe and Zambia are demonstrating that meaningful progress begins with bold bilateral actions.
They are showing what leadership looks like: reforms that directly improve the movement of people, goods and services, rather than policies that remain trapped on paper.
The shift to 24-hour operations at the border posts is particularly transformative.
Chirundu, already a pioneer as Africa’s first one-stop border post, has shown that efficient border management is not a theoretical aspiration, but a practical reality.
Trucks that previously spent days in queues now cross in hours, saving time and money, and reducing spoilage of perishable goods.
Extending this operational efficiency to Victoria Falls will not only facilitate faster cargo movement, but will also unlock night-time tourism flows, cross-border hospitality opportunities and regional travel convenience.
With Victoria Falls being a global tourism magnet, the benefits of a seamless border extend far beyond trade; they enhance competitiveness for hotels, tour operators, airlines and small-scale service providers on both sides of the Zambezi.
This move could re-energise the regional tourism economy, which has weathered several years of global disruption.
The reduction or removal of tariffs on goods is equally significant.
High tariffs have long acted as hidden taxes on ordinary consumers and as constraints on manufacturers seeking export markets.
By easing these burdens, Zimbabwe and Zambia are lowering production costs, stimulating industrial collaboration and making it easier for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to engage in cross-border trade.
These are not abstract gains; they translate into lower prices for consumers, higher profit margins for producers and a more vibrant trading environment for both nations.
The private sector stands to benefit immensely from these policy shifts.
Transport and logistics companies will enjoy faster turnaround times; wholesalers and retailers will gain access to cheaper and more diverse goods; and mining companies operating across both jurisdictions will be able to move critical inputs with reduced red tape.
Even informal cross-border traders, who form the backbone of regional commerce, will operate in a more predictable, less punitive environment, thereby boosting livelihoods, especially for women and the youth who dominate this sector.
In many ways, these policies speak directly to the daily realities of ordinary citizens rather than solely to corporate interests.
These developments carry wider continental significance.
In an era when AfCFTA aims to eliminate tariffs on 90 percent of goods and promote free movement across Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia have effectively become pacesetters.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Free Trade Area has sometimes been criticised for slow implementation and lingering non-tariff barriers.
Yet the collaboration between Zimbabwe and Zambia offers a model for how member states can move from rhetoric to action.
If replicated between other neighbours such as South Africa and Botswana, Tanzania and Malawi, or Mozambique and Eswatini, the entire region could see unprecedented gains in competitiveness and collective development.
Implementing these measures across the region by simplifying customs procedures, extending border operating hours and harmonising tariffs, SADC could witness a dramatic reduction in trade costs and a surge in intra-regional commerce.
Zimbabwe and Zambia’s latest actions illustrate what real commitment looks like.
Their willingness to act decisively, rather than wait for continent-wide consensus, provides a blueprint for how AfCFTA can work in practice.
It is a practical reminder that regional integration does not always begin with grand, sweeping reforms but with focused bilateral actions that create momentum and set examples.
By boldly moving ahead, Zimbabwe and Zambia are not only strengthening their own economies, but also nudging the region towards deeper economic integration.
Their cooperation sends a clear message that African development can begin with committed neighbours who recognise that prosperity is not a zero-sum game.
Tinaye Agere