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Thupeyo Muleya-Beitbridge Bureau
Commercial truck drivers have expressed confidence over the envisaged improved border efficiency management systems at Beitbridge Border Post, which is being modernised by the Government in partnership with the Zimborders Consortium.
In separate interviews, truck drivers from most SADC countries said they were looking forward to spending less time at the border under the new order.
So far, the Zimborders Consortium has spent US$65 million on pre-commencement works and the construction of roads, weighbridges, warehouses and upgrading ICT facilities.
The freight terminal, which falls under Phase One will be officially opened on October 6.
Government started implementing a dry run on Thursday, ahead of the official opening.
The modernisation initiative is being rolled out in three phases which include the commercial freight terminal (Phase One), buses and light motor vehicles, and pedestrian terminals under Phases 2 and 3, respectively.
It is envisaged that the new commercial freight terminal will house departments of immigration, customs, police, and all border agencies.
The counters were set up in sequence so that clients do not move from one building to the other.
“We are happy with what the Government of Zimbabwe has done in upgrading this facility,” said a truck driver, Mr Runesu Runesu.
“There was too much pollution here due to lack of paving and the infrastructure inadequacy. In fact, previously, we were spending longer than necessary to pass through this port of entry.
“From what we are seeing here since the start of the two weeks troubleshooting, things could get even better here.”
Another truck driver, Mr Adiseni Gengezha, they were now spending less hours at the border, when in the past they spend between three and seven days to cross into either South Africa or Zimbabwe.
“We were now used to spending too many days in the queue to complete the border formalities due to limited parking space here as a result of the construction works.
“However, the queues have been moving faster since Thursday morning when Zimbabwe started implementing the dry run on its new commercial freight terminal,” he said.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Engineer Theodius Chinyanga said indications from the ongoing dry run were that the border efficiency systems were gradually improving.
He said they were confident the freight terminal would be officially opened as scheduled.
Online Reporter