Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau THE Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) says the Beitbridge Border Post modernisation project has significantly enhanced infrastructure quality and improved overall clearing efficiencies at the country’s busiest port of entry. Gone are the days when cargo spent two to four days at the border. Transporters now complete clearance processes in under three hours, thanks to an automated system with turnaround time tracking. Government and the Zimborders Consortium invested approximately US$300 million to upgrade the facility, under a 17-and-a-half-year Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) arrangement, as part of broader efforts to improve the ease of doing business. Beitbridge Border Post handles around seven million travellers annually and processes 1 200 commercial trucks, 200 buses and 3 000 light vehicles daily. It serves as a critical gateway for regional and international trade involving countries such as Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, Botswana and Tanzania. Zimra’s Head of Customs at Beitbridge, Ms Annie Nhekete, said during a breakfast meeting with border agencies held alongside the Beitbridge Business Expo that the upgraded facility has enhanced service delivery and compliance enforcement. She said the port of entry had been reorganised into specialised terminals and channels for different categories of traffic, pedestrians and private vehicles, buses and commercial freight. “The facility now features the following service points, which have transformed our operations: private/pedestrian terminal; bus terminal (buses, coaches, mini-buses); freight terminal (haulage trucks); terminal for light commercial vehicles (malayitshas); and dedicated entry (northbound) and exit (southbound) lanes, including an express lane (green route) for commercial trucks,” said Ms Nhekete. “Each traffic stream has a dedicated terminal and staff, with a combination of automated and manual access control systems in place. This has helped decongest the border and streamline traffic clearance according to type.” She added that all correctly declared goods are now being cleared within standard turnaround times, eliminating the previously common long queues. The modernised border post also includes expanded parking areas to accommodate all vehicle types. This enables Zimra and other Government agencies to conduct routine compliance checks as part of enforcement operations. Ms Nhekete highlighted other critical upgrades such as automated boom gates and spikes, real-time system-generated reports (hourly and daily), CCTV surveillance, a facial recognition system, biometric access to restricted zones and a public address system to improve border management and logistics. “In terms of automation, we now offer electronic registration of import and export Bills of Entry. This allows clearing agents to register Bills of Entry via ASYCUDA from their offices, provided they are registered in terms of the Customs and Excise Act and have the appropriate profiles,” she said. “Additionally, we have introduced the E-Manifest, an advanced system that requires transporters, cross-border bus operators and airlines to submit cargo and passenger lists prior to arrival in Zimbabwe. This gives us time to risk-profile goods and passengers, facilitating quicker clearance for low-risk entries.” Zimra is also using the Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS) for goods in transit. Once sealed, these are monitored electronically throughout their journey in Zimbabwe. Furthermore, the authority has implemented the Zimbabwe Electronic Single Window (ZESW) — an initiative designed to streamline compliance, levy collection and process monitoring into a single online system. This reduces the time travellers, importers and exporters spend navigating between offices at the port. The initiative aligns with international best practices in customs reforms and supports the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) priority of facilitating trade.