US$300 million Beitbridge border upgrade first phase commissioning in September

The commissioning of the first phase of construction works under the US$300 million Beitbridge Border Post upgrading project is set for September, a Cabinet Minister has said.

This comes as the New Dispensation, under the stewardship of President Mnangagwa, presses ahead with its quest to promote infrastructure development and address challenges around trade facilitation through the country's major ports of entry.

Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona said the lack of appropriate infrastructure and non-automation at the countries and Sadc's busiest border had in previous years created a bottleneck to the efficient movement of cargo and people.

This, he said, created security challenges, congestion, and delays.

Minister Mhona made the remarks during the tour of the project, where he inspected the civil works against the set targets.

"In order to address some of the challenges here, the Second Republic undertook a project to upgrade and modernise Beitbridge Border Post through a private-public partnership with the Zimborders consortium.

"As a government we are happy with the progress on the and happy to announce that our leader, President Mnangagwa will commission the first phase in September as planned," he said.

The Minister said the main scope of the project includes the upgrading of the border post with new terminal buildings, commercial facilities for the border post plant, animal quarantine facility and the construction of 264 staff houses for border agencies.

Minister Mhona said the first phase include the construction of internal border infrastructure development – a new freight terminal, scanner facility, gatehouses, commercial area's roads and parking, new vehicle Inspectorate Department buildings, and a maintenance building for use by Zimborders.