Date for Chirundu One Stop Border Post Agreed
Posted Jun 02, 2009
On 29th May, Honourable Felix Mutati, Minister of Commerce, Trade & Industry for Zambia and Honourable Priscilla Misihairambwi-Mushonga, Minister for Regional Integration and International Cooperation for Zimbabwe made a joint inspection of the Chirundu Border Post.
The development of Chirundu as a One Stop Border Post (OSBP) has been worked upon by DFID (through RTFP) and JICA for some three years but finally the date of 1st September 2009 has been set for the official launch.
Much work remains to be done particularly in the area of infrastructure ('small' works such as fencing; construction of traffic booths; repair of approach roads etc) and IT issues (with the installation of a microwave link to enable Zimbawean staff working on the Zambian side of the border - and vice versa - to link back to their own systems).
Although all relevant ministries and agencies have been involved in stakeholder meetings from the start, a considerable amount of training will also have to be undertaken for all those staff who will actually man the new border format which, it is hoped, will drastically reduce the lengthy delays that commerical traffic has to currently endure at the border.