NEW: SADC Member States meet in Harare to address Kasumbalesa border challenges

Harmony Agere

Southern African Development Community (SADC) Member States met in Harare from February 4 to 7 to resolve persistent challenges plaguing the Kasumbalesa Border Post between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia.

The high-level meeting sought to address congestion, trade facilitation and growing security concerns, particularly for truck drivers and the broader trading community.

The meeting, facilitated by the SADC Secretariat with financial backing from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), brought together public and private sector representatives from ten affected SADC Member States, that is Angola, Botswana, DRC, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Representatives from the Secretariat of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) participated in the discussions.

According to the SADC Secretariat, the engagement allowed Member States to deliberate on the Framework of Collaboration and Action Plan agreed upon by the DRC and Zambia in Kinshasa on May 9, 2024.

The meeting also served as a preparatory step for the upcoming SADC Inter-Ministerial Task Force meeting, which will bring together ministers responsible for Trade, Transport, Security, Immigration, and Infrastructure, in line with the mandate of the SADC Council of Ministers and the 44th SADC Summit held in August 2024.

“The problems at the Kasumbalesa Border Post are interconnected and have a domino effect on the efficiency of the entire North-South Corridor and other strategic trade routes,” said the SADC Secretariat in a statement released on Friday.

“A lasting solution requires a holistic and coordinated regional approach.”

In response to these challenges, the meeting recommended adopting a corridor-wide approach to infrastructure development and trade facilitation to enhance efficiency along the North-South Corridor.

The proposed framework is built on four key pillars – customs and trade facilitation, transport and trade-related infrastructure, security, and immigration.

The meeting also proposed an action matrix designed to streamline trade facilitation along the North-South Corridor.

This initiative is expected to reduce delays, improve security for transporters, and create a more predictable trade environment.

“SADC remains committed to fostering regional integration and addressing trade bottlenecks that hinder economic growth,” the statement reads.

“By implementing these recommendations, we aim to enhance trade efficiency and security for all stakeholders along the corridor.”