Online Reporter
Gibson Nyikadzino
Zimpapers Politics Hub
SADC ministers responsible for trade, transport, infrastructure, and security are set to meet virtually on Friday to address challenges at the Kasumbalesa Border Post between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia.
In a statement yesterday, the regional body noted that “the Kasumbalesa Border Post has faced persistent issues, including congestion, trade facilitation-related constraints, infrastructure challenges, and rising security concerns, particularly affecting truck drivers and the broader trading community.”
“Recognising the strategic importance of the Kasumbalesa border post for intra-regional trade, the SADC region will adopt a corridor-wide approach to address these ongoing challenges.
“This approach takes into account that resolving issues at a single border post alone is not sustainable, as efficiencies gained may be offset by bottlenecks at adjacent border crossings and along the trade corridors,” the statement read.
Kasumbalesa connects several regional trade arteries such as the North-South Corridor, the Central Development Corridor (Dar es Salaam), the Walvis Bay-Ndola-Lubumbashi Corridor, and the Beira and Lobito development corridors.
Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development Felix Mhona will chair the meeting as the bloc seeks to create actionable plans for infrastructure improvement, enhanced trade facilitation, and security measures along these essential corridors, ensuring seamless regional trade flow.
In January, DRC and Zambian officials met at the directive of their principals, Presidents Felix Tshisekedi and Hakainde Hichilema, to find ways to clear the congestion issues after the introduction of a new Electronic Seals Clearance System (ESCS) at the border post.
Bongani Ndlovu