Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve, Victoria Falls Reporter
IN a major boost for regional trade and tourism, the key Victoria Falls and Chirundu border posts will transition to 24-hour operations starting this December. The move is a joint initiative by Zimbabwe and Zambia aimed at intensifying efforts to streamline customs and immigration, creating a seamless, 24/7 corridor for commerce and human traffic across Southern Africa.
With Beitbridge and Forbes Border Posts already operating around the clock, the two countries are collaborating on a landmark development expected to boost regional trade and tourism, Chief Director in the Department of Immigration, Ms Respect Gono, said in an exclusive interview with Zimpapers.
She highlighted the benefits of cordial bilateral relations between Zimbabwe and Zambia, which date back to the liberation struggle. Ms Gono said the Government is actively pursuing the modernisation of the country’s borders and increasing operational hours to facilitate the movement of people and business.
“We expect Victoria Falls Border Post and Chirundu Border Post to run 24 hours by December this year. What has happened is that we are trying to synchronise all border stations to operate 24 hours.
“You may appreciate that the movement of people and business has increased. As a result, we are trying by all means to ensure the smooth movement of people in business across the region. This is going to assist us in economic growth, smooth movement of our people in business, and we will see a lot of business in the region,” she said.
The strategic initiative is a powerful demonstration of the collaborative spirit between Zimbabwe and Zambia, who are working in tandem to ensure the success of this project. By eliminating the constraints of fixed operating hours, the two nations are dismantling a significant non-tariff barrier to trade, allowing for faster and more efficient cross-border movement.
The move is set to be a major enabler for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). By creating a fluid, 24-hour transport artery from South Africa, through Zimbabwe, and into Zambia and beyond, the region enhances its logistics network — critical for intra-African trade.
Trucks and goods entering through the bustling Beitbridge Border Post from the south will now be able to transit through Zimbabwe and cross into Zambia at Victoria Falls or Chirundu at any time of day or night, drastically reducing transit times, logistics costs and delays that have historically hampered trade.
This dovetails perfectly with the aspirations of the AfCFTA to create a single, integrated market for goods and services across the continent.
Ms Gono said the expansion is part of a broader, comprehensive strategy to modernise Zimbabwe’s border management systems. She highlighted the critical role of technology in achieving these goals.
“Guided by our Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, under the Border Governance pillar, we have rolled out the
Online Border Management System (OBMS), which features state-of-the-art equipment such as e-gates,” she said.
Furthermore, she pointed to the successful rollout of the e-passport system, a cornerstone of the Government’s documentation drive.
“In the spirit of safe, orderly and regular migration, the Registrar General of Zimbabwe successfully rolled out the e-passport, which has been rapidly decentralised across Zimbabwe through bio-enrolment centres across provinces — restoring dignity through inclusive documentation and ensuring that every Zimbabwean, regardless of their geographic location, has access to travel documents. Since 2022, about 1.6 million e-passports have been issued across the country.”
Ms Gono also cited the modernisation of the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, which now boasts e-gates for seamless biometric clearance, and the world-class upgrade of the Beitbridge Border Post as benchmarks that Victoria Falls and Chirundu borders are now set to follow.
The development comes at an opportune time, coinciding with the Government’s ongoing rehabilitation of the strategic Beitbridge to Victoria Falls Highway. The upgrades to the Bulawayo–Victoria Falls Road will complement the 24-hour border operations, ensuring that improved border efficiency is matched by smoother and safer road travel — further cementing Zimbabwe’s position as a key regional transit hub.
