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The Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has signed a contract with United States-based Astrophysics Inc. for the supply and installation of an advanced drive-through X-ray cargo scanner at the Livingstone Border Post.
The contract was signed on Monday at the United States Embassy in Lusaka by ZRA Commissioner-General, Dingani Banda, and Astrophysics Inc. Vice President of Human Resources and Organisational Development, Vincent Zayek.
Banda said the project supported Government’s drive to use technology to improve tax administration and facilitate trade under the Non-Stop Border Pass concept.
“Technology, therefore, plays a vital role in facilitating trade and securing the supply chain. This underscores the importance of scanners in trade facilitation,” he said.
Read more: Techbytes: ZRA turns to AI, research to strengthen tax administration
He said physical inspection of cargo without scanners could take up to five hours, while the Astrophysics scanner already operating at Nakonde Border Post could scan a 30-tonne truck in about five seconds.
Banda said the Livingstone installation would be the second scanner supplied by Astrophysics, following the commissioning of the Nakonde scanner by President Hakainde Hichilema in June this year.
He said efficient border operations were critical given Zambia’s position as a landlocked country located along six major trade corridors linking Southern Africa.
Banda said ZRA had also introduced reforms including Coordinated Border Management, which reduced the number of Government agencies operating at borders from 18 to six.
He said the authority had further implemented Customs-to-Customs Data Exchange with Zimbabwe, Botswana and Malawi, while discussions were ongoing with Tanzania.
Banda said ZRA was increasingly using risk management in customs operations, with goods not necessarily subjected to physical inspection.
He said entries processed through the Blue Lane, which were designated for post-clearance audits, accounted for 59 percent of revenue collected in 2025.
Meanwhile, Zayek said the agreement represented a shared commitment to strengthening Zambia’s border security and improving trade facilitation.
He said Astrophysics was proud to provide Zambia with advanced non-intrusive cargo inspection technology and intended to expand its presence in the country.
Zayek said the company planned to install additional systems and establish a permanent office in Zambia to provide stronger local support.
U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires, Mich Coker, said the project would help accelerate legitimate trade while strengthening efforts to prevent abuse of the country’s borders.
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