SADC Ministers Convene to Tackle Challenges at Kasumbalesa Border Post
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) concluded a two-day Inter-Ministerial Task Force meeting in Kinshasa, aiming to address the long-standing issues plaguing the Kasumbalesa Border Post between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia.
Ministers responsible for trade, transport, infrastructure, and security from both countries convened to discuss a draft framework for collaboration and an action plan.
This initiative seeks to find lasting solutions for the challenges faced by transporters and drivers crossing the Kasumbalesa border.
The DRC Vice-Prime Minister responsible for Interior, Security and Customary Affairs, Peter Kankonde Kazadi, opened the meeting and emphasized the DRC’s commitment to resolving these issues permanently.
Zambian counterpart, Home Affairs and Internal Security Minister Jacob Jack Mwiimbu, highlighted the need for efficient border management to facilitate regional trade.
He stressed the importance of Kasumbalesa for the entire SADC region, calling for streamlined processes encompassing both physical and electronic infrastructure.
SADC Deputy Executive Secretary, Angéle Makombo N’Tumba, commended the ministers’ efforts and underscored the strategic significance of the Kasumbalesa Border Post.
She pointed out its role as a critical junction for several regional trade corridors, including the North-South Corridors, the Dar es Salaam Development Corridor, and the Walvis Bay-Ndola-Lubumbashi Corridor.
N’Tumba emphasized Kasumbalesa’s position as the second-busiest land border post in SADC, after Beitbridge between South Africa and Zimbabwe.
