Tanzania and Zambia have pledged to deepen bilateral cooperation to address the long-standing challenge of unauthorized cross-border movement of forest products, a move expected to safeguard natural resources and reduce trade inefficiencies along their shared border.
The commitment was reached on July 7, 2025, during a strategic bilateral meeting held on the sidelines of the Zambia International Trade Fair (ZITFT) in Ndola.
The high-level talks brought together senior officials from the Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS) and Zambia’s Department of Forestry, marking a new chapter in joint resource governance.
The Tanzanian delegation was led by Deputy Conservation Commissioner for Marketing and Sustainable Use of Forest Resources, Salehe Beleko, who represented Commissioner of Conservation, Prof. Dos Santos Silayo.
He held talks with Mr. Sitwala Wamunyima, Director of Zambia’s Department of Forestry, who spoke on behalf of his country’s forest administration.
Speaking after the meeting, Beleko emphasized that the two countries were addressing a persistent issue in which consignments of forest products from Zambia are intercepted in Tanzania with documentation not recognized by the relevant Zambian authorities.
“This has caused unnecessary delays, losses, and confusion for traders. We believe that establishing a joint system of communication, verification, and monitoring will ease trade flows and enhance transparency,” he said.
He added that Tanzania is committed to ensuring that legitimate cross-border trade in forest products proceeds without disruption, provided it adheres to both national and international regulatory standards.
On his part, Wamunyima acknowledged that Zambia is still developing its forest governance systems and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to strengthening oversight mechanisms.
He revealed that Zambia plans to operationalize a centralized, internationally recognized digital permitting system by December 2025, which will be interoperable with Tanzania’s forest regulatory frameworks.
“We still have a long way to go in terms of forest sector reforms. Tanzania has valuable experience in afforestation, sustainable forest harvesting, beekeeping, and digital permit systems areas in which we hope to learn and collaborate,” said Wamunyima.
The two sides also discussed opportunities to formalize capacity-building initiatives, including curriculum alignment between Tanzania’s Forestry Training Institute (FTI) and the Zambia Forestry College.
According to Mr. Shawa Patrice, Deputy Principal of the Zambian institution, adopting aspects of the FTI curriculum will help modernize their training and meet the evolving demands of today’s job market.
In addition, the TFS delegation toured the Zambia Forestry and Forest Industries Corporation (ZAFFICO), a state-owned entity engaged in commercial tree planting and forest product manufacturing.
The visit aimed at exploring avenues for collaboration in technical expertise, raw material exchange, and forest product development.
This renewed bilateral engagement reflects Tanzania's broader strategy of promoting regional cooperation in natural resource management while strengthening legal trade practices.
The 2025 Zambia International Trade Fair, officially opened on July 5 by Zambia’s Minister of Finance and National Planning, Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane on behalf of President Hakainde Hichilema, is attracting participants from across the African continent and beyond. The event serves as a critical platform for advancing sustainable trade, investment, and innovation.