Five out of ten non-tariff barriers that had been fuelling heavy congestion of cargo trucks and disrupting trade at the Tunduma/Nakonde Border have been resolved following joint interventions by the governments of Tanzania and Zambia, in a move expected to strengthen international trade across Southern Africa.
The breakthrough was reached during a bilateral good-neighbourliness meeting held at the border, bringing together the two countries’ ministers responsible for foreign affairs, led by Tanzania’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, and his Zambian counterpart, Mulambo Haimbe.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Mr Kombo said one of the key outcomes was Zambia’s agreement to introduce 24-hour operations at the One Stop Border Post (OSBP), aligning its services with those already in place on the Tanzanian side.
He said the move would significantly reduce delays in cargo clearance and ease long-standing congestion of heavy trucks at the busy crossing.
He added that Zambia had also agreed to put into use a modern cargo scanner provided by the Government of Tanzania, a step aimed at enhancing the speed and efficiency of cargo inspections.
The scanner is expected to shorten clearance times and reduce the costs traders incur due to prolonged delays at the border.
The two countries further agreed to integrate their customs management systems Tanzania’s TANCIS and Zambia’s ASYCUDA Plus to allow faster sharing of information, improve transparency and enhance coordination in border operations.
The measures are expected to boost the competitiveness of Tanzania’s ports and border posts, facilitate smoother movement of goods, and stimulate regional and international trade.
Officials say the progress made at the Tunduma/Nakonde border will not only benefit traders and transporters but also contribute to economic growth in both countries and the wider Southern African region.