Beitbridge Border Post Project Nears Completion
The border post between South Africa and Zimbabwe has been redeveloped as a public-private partnership.
The US$300 million Beitbridge Border Post modernisation project has reached completion, the Zimbabwe Chronicle reports. The project was designed to improve traffic movement between South Africa and Zimbabwe.
The project’s main aim was to establish a one-stop border post at the transit point, South Africa’s primary road gateway for most of the north-south trade. It included upgrades to the roads to and from the crossing, perimeter fencing, gate controls, parking areas and security and lighting systems, as well as new terminals for freight, buses, light vehicles and pedestrians.
Some out-of-port works included the construction of 220 houses for border workers, an animal quarantine facility, a fire station, a sewer oxidation dam and a new water reservoir tank.
Zimborders Consortium was awarded the project as a build-operate-transfer contract. The consortium will operate the post for 17 years and expects to collect at least US$1 billion before handing it over to the government.
“We should be done by the end of this month, and what is left are ancillary works, including erecting signage to direct traffic flow to the correct terminals. We have the freight, buses, light vehicles, and pedestrian terminals and all processing different traffic categories,” the Zimbabwe Chronicle quoted Nqobile Ncube, ZimBorders Consortium's general manager as saying in June.
“The introduction of the pre-clearance system for all imports and exports has helped reduce the turnaround time people are spending at the border,” said Zimbabwe Revenue Authority's commissioner for customs and excise, Batsirai Chadzingwa.
The automation of services is intended to reduce the opportunity for corruption among border employees.
Beitbridge Border Post, 11.4 Mega Litre Water Reservoir.
— Focus on 2023 Pres Elections (@2023Focus) October 24, 2022
The reservoir will supply water to modernised Beitbridge border post and the surrounding areas#NyikaInovakwaNeveneVayo @ZimLiveUpdates @VulindlelaNdab2 @ZimGvt_NDS1 @DevelopmentUpd1 @zanupf_patriots @zinwawater pic.twitter.com/dFPfaOQA72
Photo: www.zimborders.com
Add a comment
ConstructAfrica welcomes lively debate, but will not publish comments that are threatening, libellous or abusive.