News / National
Calls for Chirundu Border Post to open 24hrs
16 Jan 2016 at 18:09hrs | Views
Calls have been made for the Chirundu Border Post to operate around the clock.
The border post operates for 16 hours from 6am to 10pm but some policy makers are of the view that the facility is being under utilised, given its status as Southern Africa's sole One Stop Border Post.
Lawmaker Reuben Marumahoko says it doesn't make business sense to have Beitbridge Border Post operate for 24 hours yet the traffic in transit to countries north of Zambia cannot proceed past Chirundu after 10pm, a situation that results in costly delays for cross border truckers.
Marumahoko expressed the sentiments in Chirundu during the Chirundu Local Board stakeholders feedback meeting.
The Minister of State for Mashonaland West Faber Chidarikire promised to take up the issue, saying Chirundu has the potential to grow into a big town given its strategic position as the entry and exit point to and from Southern Africa.
Other stakeholders proposed that Chirundu be considered for tourism investment and growth, expressing concern over the general lack of investment in the northern border town.
Chirundu lacks any meaningful economic and social services and infrastructure, save for the main imposing complex housing border control departments from both Zimbabwe and Zambia.
The Chirundu Local Board, which is still in its infancy, is, however, intent on transforming the face of the border settlement, and is set to put a number of social services infrastructure in the town.
The border post operates for 16 hours from 6am to 10pm but some policy makers are of the view that the facility is being under utilised, given its status as Southern Africa's sole One Stop Border Post.
Lawmaker Reuben Marumahoko says it doesn't make business sense to have Beitbridge Border Post operate for 24 hours yet the traffic in transit to countries north of Zambia cannot proceed past Chirundu after 10pm, a situation that results in costly delays for cross border truckers.
Marumahoko expressed the sentiments in Chirundu during the Chirundu Local Board stakeholders feedback meeting.
The Minister of State for Mashonaland West Faber Chidarikire promised to take up the issue, saying Chirundu has the potential to grow into a big town given its strategic position as the entry and exit point to and from Southern Africa.
Other stakeholders proposed that Chirundu be considered for tourism investment and growth, expressing concern over the general lack of investment in the northern border town.
Chirundu lacks any meaningful economic and social services and infrastructure, save for the main imposing complex housing border control departments from both Zimbabwe and Zambia.
The Chirundu Local Board, which is still in its infancy, is, however, intent on transforming the face of the border settlement, and is set to put a number of social services infrastructure in the town.
Source - ZBC
