Modernisation of Nakonde Border Post Underway
The streamlining of transport corridors to facilitate the ease of movement of goods, people and services, positioning the country as a logistics hub, is gaining momentum.
The Presidential Delivery Unit is pleased to announce that the government of Zambia and Trademark Africa have officially handed over the Nakonde One Stop Border Post (OSBP)to the contractor to commence upgrade works.
The site handover follows the signing of a Partner Support Agreement (PSA) between the Government of Zambia and TradeMark Africa in March this year. The commencement of works marks the first phase of modernising the border post to ease cross-border trade and transit between Zambia and Tanzania.
The modernisation works, funded by the UK government through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and works being done by the contractor China Railway Construction, will include numerous improvements such as upgrading roads within the OSBP and the truck parking yard, constructing additional office buildings and warehouses, and installing a modern X-ray cargo scanner.
The project also includes digitising clearance processes and installing smart gates to reduce truck dwell times from the current 64 hours to less than 24 hours, thereby reducing delays and losses for businesses.
Once modernised, the border will improve the flow of goods and people along the Dar es Salaam Corridor, streamline operations, enhance customs efficiency, and reduce cargo clearance times on both sides of the border.
“As we officially hand over the site to the contractor, we urge them to expedite the civil works so that traders and border users can start enjoying the benefits of increased border efficiency and enhanced clearance. This will be a game changer for our economy by reducing delays and boosting trade operations between Zambia and our neighbors,” remarked Muchinga Province Infrastructure Officer, Mr. Andrew Njelesani.
The Nakonde-Tunduma border is one of the busiest entry and exit points for cargo in Zambia, playing a vital role in facilitating international trade and transporting essential goods such as Minerals, mining lubricants and machinery, food, fuel, and fertiliser. The border is also important for passenger crossings using public and private transport.
This project builds upon the UK-funded upgrade of the Tunduma OSBP on the Tanzanian side, which included the installation of X-ray cargo scanners at the Tunduma OSBP. This upgrade led to a 40% reduction in cargo processing time.
These initiatives align with TradeMark Africa’s broader efforts to facilitate trade across the African continent. The Nakonde project is set to deepen trade ties between Zambia and its neighboring countries, leveraging Zambia’s strategic position as a land-linked country reliant on regional ports and corridors for its international trade.