Zimbabwe to modernising 4 border posts not Plumtree

The government will mobilise more than US$900 million over the next five years to redevelop and modernise four key border posts — Forbes, Chirundu, Nyamapanda, and Kanyemba — in a bid to position Zimbabwe as a competitive regional transit hub.

The initiative, outlined in the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), aims to ease trade bottlenecks, improve customs processing, and enhance overall regional trade efficiency under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Forbes Border Post, the main gateway into Mozambique through Mutare, will receive US$232 million for upgrades between 2026 and 2028. The project will improve cargo handling, security systems, and customs clearance efficiency along the Beira Corridor.

Chirundu Border Post, a crucial crossing to Zambia on the North-South Corridor, will be modernised at an estimated US$68,8 million through a public-private partnership (PPP), enhancing operational efficiency and service delivery.

Nyamapanda Border Post, linking Zimbabwe and Mozambique along the Harare–Nyamapanda corridor, will also be redeveloped via PPP arrangements as part of the Harare–Nyamapanda road rehabilitation project at a total cost of US$262 million, with completion targeted for 2029.

Kanyemba Border Post in the Zambezi Valley will undergo redevelopment over three years through a PPP, costing US$384 million. The upgrade aims to improve trade connectivity and stimulate economic activity in northern Zimbabwe.

The government also plans to establish one-stop border posts at Forbes–Machipanda and Nyamapanda–Cuchamano, allowing immigration, customs, and security services from neighbouring countries to operate under one roof, reducing duplication and speeding up cross-border movement. Framework agreements for the one-stop posts are expected by the end of the first quarter of 2026.

The redevelopment programme follows the successful modernisation of Beitbridge Border Post, Zimbabwe's busiest port, which has become a world-class facility handling more than half of the country's cross-border traffic. Beitbridge's upgrade has reduced congestion, improved revenue collection, strengthened security, and enhanced Zimbabwe's image as a reliable regional trade gateway.

Government says the Beitbridge model will guide the redevelopment of other major border posts under NDS2.