Martin Muleya
Forbes Border Post, located in Mutare, Zimbabwe, is a critical gateway facilitating international trade among Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries. As one of the busiest border posts in the region, it plays a vital role in promoting economic growth, regional integration, and development.
With its strategic position, Forbes Border Post connects Zimbabwe to its neighboring countries, including Mozambique and South Africa, making it an essential hub for the exchange of goods and services.
The Border Post is integral to the regional economy, handling a significant volume of trade between Zimbabwe and its SADC counterparts as it facilitates the movement of goods such as agricultural products, minerals, and manufactured goods, which are crucial for the economic development of the region.
By streamlining customs procedures and reducing clearance times, Forbes Border Post enables businesses to access new markets, increase trade volumes, and enhance economic competitiveness. This, in turn, contributes to job creation, poverty reduction, and improved living standards for communities in the region.
Speaking on the sidelines of a tour by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Industry and Commerce last Saturday, Zimbabwe Revenue Authority Regional Manager Tichaona Phiri boasted that in terms of the export process his organisation had one of the best systems although he lamented that different government agencies were congesting the border, this then slows clearing trucks timely.
“In terms of the export process, we have one of the best systems in terms of handling time. It takes just three minutes at Customs to verify documentation and releasing the truck. But we have twenty-one different government agencies that have control interests in exports much as they control interests in imports as well. This then means the three minutes that we take to clear out trucks is no longer three minutes but more depending on what is the factor contribution in one of these government agencies,” explained Phiri.
Phiri declared that due to the small working area of the border it means there is no border at all.
“Just last week we had one truck that had a breakdown and it literally halted operations at the border. What this effectively mean is we do not have a border post at all in terms of physical space. This is not good to us as a nation as it gives an impression on who we are as a nation when we talk of real trade. Our statistics have been rising since 2019, our commercial activities are above Beitbridge. Our focus must be redirected to Forbes because this is where the nation is feeding in terms of our economics,” he added.
A truck driver from Pirrlyis Trucks Brian Muchapireyi, upon interviewed said he arrived at GMS in Mutare around 2pm and had his papers cleared but had to spent the greater part of the day spilling into the whole night queing to cross the border.
“I am heading to Beira and I joined this queue yesterday around 2pm. I have not even slept as I was patiently following the queue. I think Government should create a safe passage for those whose papers would have been cleared in advance because as we speak now as soon as I cross into Mozambique I am given twenty one hours to reach Beira. What this means is I won’t be able to take a rest because if the twenty-one hours elapses I will be fined $80 for late acquittal,” lamented Muchapireyi.
Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Industry and Commerce chairperson Kudakwashe Mudekunye hinted that his team had descended to Mutare to establish how easy it is to conduct commerce at the border and also to proffer solutions on how revenue collection can be improved at the border.
“We are here to see how easy it is to cross into Mozambique and also to establish how easy it is to conduct commerce. We have witnessed the delays of tourists due to space constrains at the border as well as of trucks.
“We want to profer solutions on how these things can be improved. Also revenue collection defines a country and it is my hope that as a country we need to generate revenue so that Zimra can be able to collect it,” said Mudekunye.
Forbes Border Post is equipped with modern infrastructure and technology, making it an efficient and secure trade route. The border post has implemented electronic systems for customs clearance, minimizing the risk of fraud and corruption. Additionally, the presence of various government agencies, including customs, immigration, and health services, ensures that all regulatory requirements are met, further facilitating the smooth movement of goods and people. By leveraging technology and interagency collaboration, Forbes Border Post has become a model for regional cooperation and integration, setting the standard for other border posts in the SADC region to follow.
