SADC Enhances Trade Efficiency with Beitbridge Border Post Assessment
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has taken a significant step in improving trade facilitation by conducting an assessment study of the Beitbridge Border Post, a key gateway between Zimbabwe and South Africa.
The study, led by Mr. Alcides Monteiro, Senior Programme Officer for Customs at the SADC Secretariat, evaluated the operational efficiency of the border from February 12-14, 2025.
The assessment focused on various critical aspects, including Coordinated Border Management (CBM), the One Stop Border Post (OSBP) concept, and transit procedures. The study also examined goods clearance times and ICT connectivity, aligning with commitments made during the 13th Ministerial Task Force (MTF) meeting on Regional Economic Integration held in 2013 in Maputo, Mozambique.
Mr. Monteiro emphasized the strategic significance of Beitbridge within the North-South Corridor, a key trade route connecting the Port of Durban in South Africa to Kasumbalesa in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The corridor facilitates trade between multiple SADC Member States, enhancing regional economic integration and industrial development.
During the study visit, Mr. Batsirai Chadzingwa, Commissioner for Customs and Excise at the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA), highlighted the government’s commitment to improving operational efficiency at Beitbridge.
He showcased the border’s modern infrastructure, which includes dedicated traffic terminals, cold storage facilities, ICT systems, and passenger processing centers. The border post, operational 24/7, has significantly improved clearance times, with trucks now being processed within three to six hours and light vehicles in about an hour.
Since its reopening in January 2021, Beitbridge has seen an increase in the number of trucks cleared daily, reaching up to 1,000 vehicles. These improvements position the border as a model for regional trade facilitation, inspiring similar initiatives across SADC Member States.
