In a significant step towards fostering regional economic integration, the Beitbridge border post, which connects South Africa and Zimbabwe, has made significant strides in enhancing regional trade by improving efficiency through the adoption of trade facilitation measures following a detailed study visit conducted by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat.
This initiative is part of a broader commitment made by Member States during the 13th meeting of the Ministerial Task Force (MTF) on Regional Economic Integration held in July 2013 in Maputo, Mozambique, where the ministers pledged to enhance border efficiencies and trade facilitation at key border posts. The mission was led by Senior Programme Officer – Customs, Mr Alcides Monteiro.
The SADC team conducted its assessment from 24 to 25 July 2025. The objectives of the study were comprehensive, focusing on several critical factors, including the operating hours of adjacent border posts, the implementation of the Coordinated Border Management (CBM) concept, progress on the implementation of the One Stop Border Post (OSBP) concept, and the efficiency of transit procedures. It also included evaluating the time required for the release of goods, as well as the state of ICT connectivity at the border and with neighbouring Zimbabwe.
The Beitbridge border post is a vital junction along the North-South Corridor. It not only serves South Africa and Zimbabwe but also facilitates trade with Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, and the rest of the SADC Member States.
The recent assessment revealed that the Beitbridge border post is now operational 24/7 for tourism and passenger traffic, and 12 hours a day for commercial goods. This improvement not only accelerates the clearance of goods but also alleviates congestion at the border, currently handling an impressive average of over 300 trucks per day. These milestones are aligned with the broader objectives of the SADC Protocol on Trade and the World Trade Organisation Trade Facilitation Agreement, which address the promotion of efficient trade practices across the region.
Furthermore, the SADC team observed a strategic reduction in the number of border agencies operating at Beitbridge.
South Africa is currently implementing the Border Management Authority (BMA), comprising Immigration, Agriculture, Law Enforcement, and Port Health. The BMA is an advanced stage of the CBM concept and was established in South Africa in 2020, beginning operations in 2023. The BMA has established coordination mechanisms with the South African Revenue Service (SARS), the South African Police Service (SAPS), and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). An implementation protocol is also in place for the BMA to work with other stakeholders such as the Cross-Border Road Transport Agency (CBRTA) and the Department of Transport (DOT). The number of border agencies has therefore been streamlined through the BMA.
The border post is currently undergoing renovations in order to be more effective and efficient in facilitating trade and to eventually implement other trade facilitation concepts in line with the SADC Regional Integration Agenda.
Having noted that South Africa has made substantive progress in embracing trade facilitation tools at Beitbridge, the Secretariat team has advised that the implementation of the One Stop Border Post (OSBP) concept should be considered expeditiously.
The SADC Secretariat will continue to assess the implementation of the Trade Facilitation Programme and the Protocol on Trade at major border posts with a view to consolidating the Free Trade Area (FTA) in line with the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) and to supporting the Industrialisation Agenda anchored on the Regional Value Chain (RVC). It is expected that these initiatives will contribute to improving the ease of doing business and increasing intra-SADC trade.
