New-look Zimbabwe border a hit with tourists

The US$300 million transformation of the Beitbridge Border Post has significantly boosted tourism in Zimbabwe, with regional and international travellers praising the improved efficiency at the country's busiest port of entry, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Barbara Rwodzi said yesterday.

Speaking during a three-day working visit to the border post, which has become a hub of activity ahead of the Christmas and New Year holidays, Minister Rwodzi said the automation of services and permanent separation of traffic had become a game changer in line with the government's ease of doing business initiatives.

"An efficient border is critical in facilitating growth of tourism within the country," Minister Rwodzi said. "We are here at Beitbridge Border Post, which is now busy as the festive traffic is peaking. Most services are now automated, and the new online border management system and electronic gates (eGates) at the immigration section have turned a new leaf on service delivery."

Under the current setup, traffic is permanently separated into commercial vehicles, buses, light vehicles and pedestrian terminals, allowing travellers to spend less than 20 minutes at the border provided they have the requisite documents. This marks a stark improvement from previous years when crossing could take anywhere from three hours to 36 hours before the border's transformation in 2021.

Minister Rwodzi expressed gratitude for the support from President Emmerson Mnangagwa and various government ministries, including Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, and Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, which facilitated the upgrade. She also commended the teamwork and coordination among border agencies, which allowed operational challenges to be addressed promptly.

"We are happy about the support the Government is giving to border agencies here. As tourism, this is good for us, and we value the Zimbabwean diaspora community who are travelling now for the festive season," she said.

During her visit, Minister Rwodzi interacted with travellers to gather feedback on service delivery and handed out drinking water, tourism brochures, t-shirts, and items made from the national fabric, further promoting Zimbabwean culture and tourism.