Paperwork delays choke Forbes Border Post

Forbes Border Post, linking Zimbabwe to Mozambique's Beira Port, has overtaken Beitbridge as the country's busiest entry and exit point for commercial trucks, but congestion remains a major challenge due to transporters arriving without completed goods paperwork, authorities have revealed.

The surge in traffic, which began early last year, has led to long queues of trucks on both sides of the border, prompting government efforts to ease delays through short-, medium-, and long-term measures. On Tuesday, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) convened a meeting with transporters to discuss adjustments in the implementation of pre-clearance procedures. A similar engagement had been held with clearing agents.

A ZIMRA official explained that trucks from Mozambique must complete all pre-clearance documentation, including stamping, before leaving the port to ensure smooth movement upon arrival at Forbes. "Pre-cleared means ready to go, but we cannot allow trucks to proceed when they have only registered. Trucks will only be allowed entry once assessments are complete and documents have been stamped," she said. The authority noted that partial compliance forces officials to stop trucks at the border to prioritise those that have fully cleared, slowing overall operations.

Some transporters expressed concerns about potential extra charges in Mozambique, given the 21-hour travel window from Beira to Forbes, but ZIMRA indicated these issues would be addressed through discussions with Mozambican counterparts, including the establishment of holding bays prior to the border.

Washington Dube, chief executive officer of the Shipping and Forwarding Agents Association of Zimbabwe (SFAAZ), highlighted the strategic importance of Forbes Border Post as Zimbabwe's eastern gateway to global markets. He said infrastructure upgrades, both physical and digital, were essential to managing higher traffic volumes. Dube pointed to ongoing projects, including the modernization of the border and the Mutare Christmas Pass Bypass and Interchange Project, as key steps in reducing congestion.

Dube emphasised that coordination among all stakeholders—government agencies, transporters, clearing agents, exporters, and importers—was crucial for the success of pre-clearance procedures. He urged transporters to submit documents to clearing agents in advance and for clearing agents to process them promptly so that ZIMRA can efficiently finalise entries. Proper implementation of this system could allow the 21-hour window from Beira to Forbes to be sufficient for completed clearances.

Originally established as a tourist clearing point, Forbes Border Post now handles over 1,000 commercial trucks daily. ZIMRA statistics indicate that from January to June 2025, Forbes cleared 88,660 outgoing trucks compared to Beitbridge's 62,964. Incoming truck volumes were similarly higher at Forbes, with 75,471 compared to Beitbridge's 63,085.

The government has also piloted the Zimbabwe Electronic Single Window system at Forbes, allowing traders to lodge standardized import, export, and transit documents electronically through a single entry point. Both Forbes and Machipanda border posts have been opened for 24-hour operations to further alleviate congestion.

As cross-border trade grows and vehicle volumes increase, full compliance with pre-clearance requirements and continued infrastructure investment are seen as critical to maintaining Forbes Border Post's role as a key trade corridor.