Online Reporter
Cletus Mushanawani
Editor
IN a significant development in border clearance processes, Forbes Border Post has emerged as the busiest border crossing in Zimbabwe, overtaking Beitbridge Border Post in terms of clearing incoming and outgoing commercial trucks since January.
This unexpected shift has brought attention to the growing importance of Forbes Border Post, which connects Zimbabwe to Mozambique’s Sea Port of Beira, providing a vital trade route for the country’s commercial traffic.
Forbes Border Post, which was initially established as a tourist clearing point before independence, has now evolved to become one of the busiest ports of entry in the country; thanks to its proximity to the busy Sea Port of Beira.
The border post serves almost half of the SADC region, and is clearing more than 1 000 commercial trucks every day.
As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Forbes Border Post’s newfound status as the busiest border post in Zimbabwe is a result of a combination of factors, including strategic investment in extended working hours, infrastructure and a concerted effort to streamline border clearance processes.
This has resulted in improved clearance times of trucks, and is expected to have a positive impact on Zimbabwe’s trade and economy.
It will also reduce transportation costs and times for businesses, making them more competitive in the regional market.
Statistics availed by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) Marketing and Corporate Affairs Executive, Mr Gladman Njanji show that from January to June, the number of outgoing and incoming trucks being cleared at Forbes Border Post are increasing every month.
A total of 88 660 outgoing commercial trucks were cleared at Forbes Border Post from January to June 2025, compared to 62 964 that were cleared at Beitbridge Border Post during the same period.
In January, Forbes Border Post cleared 14 393 outgoing commercial trucks, February (12 172); March (15 586); April (14 368); May (15 973) and June 16 168), while Beitbridge Border Post cleared 8 627 trucks in January; February (12 248); March (11 057); April (9 412); May (10 172) and June (11 448).
In terms of incoming trucks, Forbes Border Post cleared a total of 75 471 commercial trucks as at June 30, 2025, while Beitbridge Border Post cleared 63 085 trucks.
In January, Forbes Border Post cleared 12 254 incoming commercial trucks; in February (9 733); March (13 137); April (12 420); May (14 128) and June (13 799), while in January, Beitbridge Border Post cleared 9 493 commercial trucks; February (11 446); March (11 698); April (9 892); May (9 875) and June (10 681).
As Zimbabwe continues on improve its ease of doing business rankings, ZIMRA recently launched the Zimbabwe Electronic Single Window automated system to reduce border delays and congestion.
Forbes Border Post was identified as the host of the pilot project which was officially launched in June 2022.
A Single Window system is a facility that allows parties involved in trade and transport to lodge standardised information and documents electronically with a single entry point to fulfil all import, export and transit regulatory requirements.
The development of a Single Window environment to facilitate trade or cross-border movement of goods is a modern initiative that has been under consideration by a number of international organisations such as the World Customs Organisation, the United Nations, as well as several customs administrations across the world.
The two sister countries – Zimbabwe and Mozambique – have also opened Forbes and Machipanda border posts to operate 24 hours, and this has reduced congestion at the ports of entry.
In a recent interview in Beira during the ZimTrade Outward Mission to Sofala Province, Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza said since the advent of the Second Republic, there has been tremendous progress in terms of promoting trade, while economic activities have quadrupled.
“This is a clear sign that President Mnangagwa is guiding our country in the right direction. The Beira Corridor is the fastest, smoothest and fastest route, and what is left for us as Government is to ensure that Forbes and Machipanda border posts are revamped. As for Forbes Border Post, President Mnangagwa has sanctioned its revamping. Once that has been put in place and sorted out, the economies of both Zimbabwe and Mozambique as well as neighbouring countries will continue to develop.
“It is encouraging to notice the continuous strengthening of relationships between Zimbabwe and Mozambique, and this is helping in promoting regional trade as most neighbouring countries are now opting to use Beira Corridor as their trade route,” said Minister Mnangagwa.
Cargo handling company, Cornelder de Mozambique executive managing director, Mr Jan de Vries said they are continuously investing in their business to cater for the increased volumes of Zimbabwe exports and imports.
“We have the capacity of storing about 10 000 containers in our yard and we will continue growing. We are anxiously waiting for the arrival of new and bigger cranes in about one-and-a-half years from now so that we will have six of them that can handle bigger vessels. We will be able to handle vessels that can bring 10 000 containers at once. We are also expanding our yard to store more containers, as well as our systems to make them more digital so that we can do more things efficiently. We want to grow and continue serving the Zimbabwean market which is very important to us.
“Last year, the container volume increased by 30 percent and general cargo grew by 15 percent. This year, we expect a modest growth, and are looking at another 10 to 15 percent growth. From Zimbabwe, the volumes are very encouraging as more importers and exporters are using the Sea Port of Beira. Last year, we processed about 70 000 containers that were destined to Zimbabwe, and this year we are seeing a boom in terms of volumes of minerals coming from Zimbabwe. There are more lithium and tantalite volumes flowing into the Sea Port of Beira. We also handle traditional commodities like chrome, ferrochrome, granite and agricultural products like tea, tobacco and cotton,” he said.
Commenting on the need to revamp Forbes and Machipanda border posts, Mr Jan de Vries said: “We rally behind the development of the two border posts into a one-stop facility, together with the road and railway systems linking the two countries. If the border and roads linking the port cannot handle the increasing cargo, it will be a big constraint to everyone. We hope improvements will be done to make the borders bigger and more efficient. This is very important for trade facilitation and able to sustain the growth we have experienced and expect to continue experiencing.”
