Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
HOME Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister, Honourable Kazembe Kazembe has ordered an immediate behavioural and operational shift at Forbes Border Post after witnessing first-hand the inefficiencies driving delays at one of the country’s busiest gateways.
Minister Kazembe, who toured the post this morning with Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister, Honourable Felix Mhona and Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza and other officials, said the visit was a direct instruction from President Mnangagwa, who wants the persistent traffic congestion resolved without delay.
“Zimbabwe can no longer afford queues that contradict the spirit of improved bilateral cooperation between Harare and Maputo, especially following the recent Memoranda of Understanding and the successful Zimbabwe–Mozambique Binational Commission attended by both heads of state.
“The two leaders said Zimbabwe is Mozambique and Mozambique is Zimbabwe. They do not want to see the backlog we are seeing here,” said Minister Kazembe.
The Minister expressed concern over what he described as avoidable administrative bottlenecks, noting that some delays stem from poor work ethic rather than structural challenges.
He said the delegation observed staff who stopped processing traffic simply because senior officials had arrived.
“Some of the issues can be eliminated by culture change. We all saw that when the process resumed, it flowed smoothly without any system changes. It is the attitude. Let us first change our mentality,” he said.
Minister Kazembe also highlighted the upcoming Zimbabwe Border Management Authority, which he said will help eliminate the chaotic arrangements currently frustrating travellers.
A Mozambican delegation led by a Minister of State was also expected onsite, with both sides set to jointly assess the challenges and agree on urgent corrective measures.
