Moffat Mungazi
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
THERE has been a significant increase in the number of travellers passing through Forbes Border Post in Mutare, thanks to the introduction of the 24-hour operating system.
This revelation was made during Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister, Honourable Kazembe Kazembe’s tour of the eastern port of entry yesterday (Thursday).
Regional Immigration Officer for the Eastern Region, Mr Richard Tambandini presented the statistics to Minister Kazembe, confirming a sharp rise in the number of people crossing the border since the shift to a 24-hour operating system.
This development follows the border post’s upgrade to a 24-hour facility, which was rolled out smoothly, serving 51 commercial trucks and 105 people on its first night.
The new system has streamlined the process of physical verifications of goods cleared on Bills of Entry, making it a 24-hour operation. As a result, trucks can now move continuously, and all serving officers from different Government departments, including clearing agents, operate around the clock.
The move, meant to enhance efficient and effective trade facilitation at the border post, became effective on January 15, 2024.
The border operates 24 hours per day, on three shifts working arrangement compared to the previous single 14-hour shift per day. The new arrangement has added 10 more hours, thereby lengthening effective business working time to 24 hours per day.
Trucks continue moving as they are cleared non-stop. “You would note that with the vision of His Excellency, President Emmerson Mnangagwa for opening the border for 24 hours, comparative statistics show that in January 2023, we cleared a total of 18 343 entries and when the border started operating 24 hours, the figure moved to 26 607, showing a very significant rise.
“About 20 441 people exited the country in January 2023, and the figure rose to 25 466. If we to compare the figures for the first half of 2023, we cleared 227 628 as compared to 340 23 showing a very big rise,” said Mr Tambandini.
In an interview on the sidelines of the tour, Minister Kazembe emphasised the urgent need to expand Forbes Border Post due to the significant increase in travellers passing through the border since the introduction of 24-hour operations.
This development has been welcomed, but it also highlighted the need for upgraded facilities to efficiently manage the growing traffic.The Minister expressed gratitude to President Mnangagwa for directing the 24-hour operation, which has enhanced trade facilitation and reduced congestion. However, the increased volume of travellers has underscored the importance of expanding the border post.
Fortunately, Cabinet and the President have already approved the upgrade project, which will be undertaken by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development.
Although timelines are uncertain, this development is expected to boost economic growth and improve efficiency at the border post
“We now have an increased number of people coming through the border after the opening up of the entry and exit port for 24 hours. We want to thank President Mnangagwa for giving that directive to have the border open for 24 hours. Having moved around, there is need to expedite the upgrade of this facility. We now have the appreciation of the urgency in the need to expand the facility. I am glad that Cabinet and the President have already approved this project and the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development is seized with the matter even though I might not be so sure of the timelines.
“We are here to appreciate the changes, the advantages, and challenges that could have happened after the introduction of the 24-hour operating shifts and also most critically. We are here to have an appreciation of the Online Border Management System that we are deploying throughout the country.
“We have spoken about this so many times, and we are now at a stage we are now running the system at our borders. We were at Robert Mugabe International Airport at some point and we are now here at Forbes Border Post to appreciate the way it operates,” he said.
On the challenges, Mr Tambandini had this to say: “The border post is built between two small rivers and the volume of traffic has now increased from what it used to be. There is no parking space for truckers. There is need to upgrade the border post so that we have enough space for all operations. Therefore, the urgent need for expansion is paramount.”
