Chronicle Editor
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
THE newly upgraded commercial terminal built under the US$300 million Beitbridge Border Post modernisation project is set to open to traffic on October 6.
The country and Sadc’s busiest inland port of entry is being upgraded through a Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) arrangement between the Government and the Zimborders Consortium.
Under the initiative, Government is providing technical support, while Zimborders, through various financial institutions, is funding civil works.
The current border which carries at least 1 200 commercial-heavy trucks, 3 500 light motor vehicles, 120 buses, and 15 000 travellers daily is expected to increase the carrying capacity five-fold upon completion next year.
In an interview yesterday, Zimborders chief executive officer, Mr Francois Diedrechsen said the port of entry was being transformed in three phases.
“Phase 1 will be completed in its entirety for the go-live date of October 6 this year and this involves all buildings, warehouses, roads, new weighbridges, and new main freight terminal building among others,” he said.
Mr Diedrechsen said under the new setup, Zimborders in partnership with the Government, will collect nominal access fees on commercial freight transport.
This, he said, will be done for them to be able to maintain the border infrastructure and service loans from the financial institutions.
“With respect to Phases 2 and 3, these will include the construction of the new terminals for buses, light vehicles, and pedestrians. Their opening will be done at different times upon completion in the next year. Thus, the border toll access fee will only be payable by the freight vehicles at this stage,” said Mr Diedrechsen
At the moment, the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara) is collecting only the New Limpopo Bridge (NLB) toll fees from vehicles with adjustments expected to be made in due course.
It is envisaged that under the new Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs), Zimborders will operate the new traffic flow systems and the maintenance of infrastructure at the border.
Mr Diedrechsen said they will hire a total of 111 people for fees collection.
This is in addition to 485 being hired for civil works during the course of the three-year project.
“We have already recruited 40 people for this function (this excludes the construction, maintenance, and ICT flow systems staff). The other 71 will be hired in the next two phases. The money will be collected at the entry gatehouses to the new terminal and also at a kiosk in the terminal building. We will embrace the prepayments and credit card facilities to ensure there is a smooth flow of traffic,” he said.
The official added that the additional cost, the border access fee, will be substantially offset by the reduction in time in which truckers clear and pass through the border.
“This will create a substantial saving for the truckers and thus not making the route more expensive, but actually cheaper in total as well as more convenient as a result of the time saved to pass through the border,” added Mr Diedrechsen.
Under the same project, Zimborders is constructing 264 houses for border workers, a fire station, upgrading roads, and water and sewer reticulation infrastructure for Beitbridge town. These are at various levels of construction. — @tupeyo
Online Reporter