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Zambia has entered into a £7.1 million Partner Support Agreement (PSA) with TradeMark Africa to upgrade the Nakonde One Stop Border Post, a key trade route between Zambia and Tanzania.
Funded by the British government, the project would improve the flow of goods, services and people along the Dar-es-Salaam Corridor, streamline operations and reduce cargo clearance time by more than 100 percent on both sides.
Read more: Mwami, Chirundu, Nakonde border posts receive baggage scanners for safe trade
Currently, it takes more than two days to clear cargo trucks crossing the boarder, leading to significant delays and losses for businesses.
Zambia’s Finance and National Planning Minister, Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, signed on behalf of his country while David Beer, the Chief Executive Officer signed on behalf of the firm during the launch of the programme in Lusaka on Wednesday.
During the launch, Musokotwane highlighted the projects potential to upgrade infrastructure, decrease congestion and improve trade flows across the region.
“This agreement paves way for transformative interventions aimed at upgrading infrastructure at Nakonde One Stop Border Post, improve border efficiency, reduce congestion and enhance trade facilitation,” he said.
The Minister added that by improving infrastructure at Nakonde border, the project aims to enhance clearance efficiency along the Dar es Salaam Corridor, reduce time taken to clear cargo and passengers and ultimately facilitate trade.
Musokotwane stated that the Nakonde border would see improvements, including upgrade of road infrastructure with the border and truck parking yard, construction of additional office buildings and warehouse and installation of modern cargo scanner.
“The initiative also includes the digitisation of clearance processes and installation of smart gates aimed at cutting dwelling times for cargo trucks from the current average of 55 hours,” he said.
The minister stated that the design review of the border were finalized over the last one year with support from Trade Catalyst Africa and the Tony Blair Institute that had supported the process.
Earlier, Beer underscored the impact of efficient border management on reducing trade times and costs and enhancing regional trade.
“There is no denting the effect that integrated, fully operational and efficient borders can have in reducing the time and cost of trade, thereby stimulating cross border prosperity,” he said.
British High Commissioner to Zambia, Nicholas Woolley expressed delight that his government had entered into a new partnership with Zambia and TradeMark Africa to upgrade the strategic trade frontier.
“The Nakonde/Tunduma border is one of the busiest entry/exit points for cargo in and out of Zambia, vital in facilitating international trade and the transport of essential goods such as food, fuel and fertilizer,” Woolley stated.
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