Forbes overtakes Beitbridge as Zimbabwe's busiest commercial border post

Forbes Border Post in Mutare has surpassed Beitbridge as Zimbabwe's busiest commercial entry point, with a sharp rise in freight traffic creating congestion and operational challenges for border authorities.

The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) says the surge is being fuelled by booming mineral exports and increased importation of farming inputs ahead of the rainy season. The pressure on the crossing is worsened by a narrow bridge linking Zimbabwe and Mozambique, which accommodates only one truck at a time, resulting in long queues and significant delays.

Zimra spokesperson Gladman Njanji told NewsDay that the mining boom -  especially exports of lithium, chrome and other minerals -  had dramatically increased truck volumes passing through Forbes.

"There has been a boom in the mining industry locally, leading to increased exports of lithium, chrome and other minerals, which has resulted in increased volumes of traffic at some of our border posts, including Forbes," he said.

He added that the start of the farming season had also spurred higher imports of fertiliser and agricultural inputs, both for domestic use and transit.

Forbes Border Post now handles an average of 1 100 trucks per day -  far more than its infrastructure was designed to accommodate.

"The Forbes Border Post infrastructure was not designed to handle the current large volumes in traffic, especially commercial traffic, as there is hardly any parking space for commercial trucks since the border was meant for tourist facilitation," Njanji said.

The recently refurbished Harare–Mutare highway has made the route even more attractive to transporters, further boosting traffic volumes.

Zimra is also battling staffing shortages triggered by the introduction of 24-hour operations on January 15, 2024.

"The 24-hour operation… resulted in the need for additional staff members to complement the four shifts that are required," Njanji said.

To ease congestion, the authority is automating several processes to speed up clearance times and is working with Mozambican authorities to implement joint border facilitation measures.

"Zimra has increased staffing levels at the Forbes Border Post and is on standby to send more staff there as and when the need arises," he added.

Long-term solutions are expected from the ongoing modernisation of Forbes Border Post and plans to establish a one-stop border post on the Mozambican side.

"We await completion, which will have a huge impact on service delivery and turnaround times," Njanji said.

In the 2026 National Budget, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube allocated ZiG738 million to strengthen border management agencies -  with ZiG322.4 million earmarked for upgrading border posts and ZiG200 million for automation.

Ncube said the recently completed modernisation of Beitbridge Border Post had improved traffic flow and overall border management, adding that government now intends to upgrade Chirundu and Forbes.

"The financial closure for Chirundu Border Post is expected during the first quarter of 2026, paving way for commencement of works," he said.

Transporters say congestion at Forbes has become increasingly costly, but hope the planned upgrades will restore efficiency at the country's fastest-growing commercial gateway.