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Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting on the implementation of the one-stop border post held here in Beitbridge last week, the Minister of Transport, Communications and Infrastructural Development, Nicholas Goche said the governments of Zimbabwe and South Africa are committed to addressing the issue of congestion at Beitbridge Border Post hence the need to set up a one-stop border post between the neighbouring countries.
“We met as governments of Zimbabwe and South Africa to reaffirm our commitment to the process of establishing a one-stop border post in Beitbridge, which is the busiest port of entry in sub-Saharan Africa.
“We have pledged to recommit ourselves to improve the situation at the border post in order to jointly address the multi-faceted problems affecting travellers and intra-regional trade,” he said.
Minister Goche said the two governments have agreed to expedite the implementation of the one-stop border post concept under the Sadc initiated Beitbridge Border Efficiency Management Systems. Previously, several initiatives have been undertaken by the two countries to address the challenges including the Sadc initiated Zimbabwe-South Africa Bilateral Road Transport Agreement.
Minister Goche said a similar meeting was held in South Africa during which it was agreed that there was a need to harmonise operations and improve efficiency at Beitbridge Border Post through the establishment of a one-stop border post.
“We have for some time been discussing the issue of transforming Beitbridge into a one-stop border post and progress has been very slow but, however, I am glad that we will soon start implementing the concept following a fruitful meeting with key South African stakeholders. We are now in the process of finalising agreed principles revolving around the project.
“As Zimbabwe, we are ready and have since approved the proposal and we are now in the process of discussing the financing aspect of the project ahead of its implementation,” he said.
Minister Goche said officials from the two countries will meet before the end of this month to work out an action plan towards the signing of the MoU, which would guide the implementation of the one-stop border post.
South Africa’s Minister in the Presidency responsible for Performance Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr Collins Chabane concurred with Minister Goche, saying delays in the implementation of the proposed one-stop border post at Beitbridge was a major cause for concern as it affected trade and investment within the Sadc region.
“Beitbridge Border Post is the busiest border post in the Sadc region hence the need to address the issue of congestion through setting up a one-stop border. Delays at Beitbridge hinder trade and affect the economies of the two countries including others in the region whose goods pass through this port of entry.
“We have failed travellers, exporters and importers through delays and we are saying there is a need to unlock that through the speedy implementation of the one-stop border post and bolster economic development in the region. We also need to harmonise our information and communication technology systems as well as develop our infrastructure, which is a critical component,” he said.
The Minister of Regional Integration and International Co-operation, Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga whose ministry co-ordinates the project, said when implemented the one-stop border post would reduce trade-restricting transaction costs that are estimated to be $35 million a year.
“The Beitbridge one-stop border post would ease congestion and allow easy travelling of tourists as well as stimulate trade and commerce in the entire Southern African region. We are, however, very optimistic that the development will also help ease the movement of people and goods between the two countries. It will not only be a positive development for Zimbabwe and South Africa but the entire region as well,” she said.
The Minister of Finance, Tendai Biti said the infrastructure at Beitbridge Border Post did not conform to modern international standards. He said Government was committed to addressing the challenges at the border post.
“Beitbridge, being the busiest port of entry in the country, continues to face a number of challenges which hinder movement of people and goods. These include inadequate infrastructure, non-synchronised border processes and procedures and multiplicity of border agencies, which has resulted in unnecessary delays.
“We have noted with regret the serious delays that have affected previous efforts to redress the structural and software challenges at Beitbridge border Post and therefore acknowledge the urgency of the situation,” he said.
Minister Biti said congestion increased the cost of doing business not only for Zimbabwe and South Africa but other Sadc countries as well, adding that efforts were being made to ensure that all points of entry into the country were developed as considerable strides were being made to improve travelling and trade between Zimbabwe and other countries.
The congestion reportedly costs $200 million a year in lost production, tourism traffic and revenue.
Beitbridge Border Post contributes 70 percent of all the customs duty collected in Zimbabwe and 30 percent of the country’s source of revenue comes from customs duty.
The Beitbridge one-stop border post concept would be the second in the country after the pilot phase at Chirundu Border Post between Zimbabwe and Zambia that came about as an initiative of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) to facilitate trade and free movement of goods and services within the region.
Under the one-stop border post concept, travellers will be cleared just once for passage into another country unlike the setup in which they have to undergo formalities on both sides of the border.
The concept is expected to address the problem of long winding queues that are the order of the day at the Beitbridge Border Post particularly during public holidays when there is increased volume of both human and vehicular traffic.
Online Reporter