Beitbridge border modernisation Phase 3 completion by December

THE construction of the light vehicles and pedestrians terminal under the US$300 million Beitbridge Border Post modernisation is nearing completion and is set to be opened to traffic in December this year.

Zimborders Consortium chief executive officer, Mr Francois Diedrechsen, said they expect to wrap up civil works at the end of November.

The civil works, which started in January last year, had been planned in three phases to ensure continuity in terms of traffic flow.

Two weeks ago, President Mnangagwa officially commissioned the new freight terminal, ICT facilities, and bus terminal, which fall under phases 1 and 2 respectively.

The freight terminal opened to traffic in October last year while the bus terminal opened for business in June this year.

The Government and the Zimborders Consortium are transforming the border post under Private Public Partnership (PPP).

"We are on schedule to go live December 1 as per original planning on the light vehicles and pedestrians terminal," said Mr Diedrechsen.

"There are various elements of work on the phase, which are at varying stages of completion but all is on track in terms of the works programme.

"In terms of the general outlook of the whole project including out-of-port works, everything is still on track to be completed as per previously given timelines."

He said the out-of-port works include construction of a staff village for border workers with 220 housing units, an 11,4 million megalitre water reservoir, a new fire station, an animal plant and quarantine facility and a sewer oxidation dam.

The fire station and the sewer oxidation dam and reservoir have been completed while the animal quarantine will be completed at the end of this month with the housing units set to be ready for occupation in March next year.

The consortium's general manager, Mr Nqobile Ncube said in a recent interview that the border post was being transformed under three main pillars, which include separation of traffic, automation, and building efficiencies.

"There was a need to create traffic separation. You will recall that in the old border setup, all stakeholders were piled up in one hall," he said.

"This includes commercial traffic, ordinary travel, buses, light vehicles, and tourists."

Mr Ncube said with the creation of the three terminals border authorities were now offering customised services to each type of traffic and the plan was bearing fruits.

He said following the automation of services, the human interface between border authorities and clients that creates room for rent-seeking activities was gradually being eliminated. At a later stage, authorities intend to introduce another module called the automated number plate reader.

Mr Ncube said automation was also leaving ability for border authorities to electronically audit their processes and take corrective measures where necessary.

He said so far commercial traffic through Beitbridge has risen from 300 trucks daily during Covid-19 related lockdown to around 900 daily.

Mr Ncube said they anticipate the figure to increase to over 1 200 trucks since they are now offering premium quality services at Beitbridge.