One-stop border cargo system to be implemented at Lebombo Border Post

The South African Border Management hosted a two-day bilateral meeting with the Mozambican government with the aim to find common ground on border management.
The meeting was hosted at Ngwenya Lodge in Komatipoort on February 1 and 2.

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During the meeting, a document was signed that will enable the two countries to use one system to check in trucks at the border.
“This document will entail that the cargo the trucks declare from the South African side will appear on the Mozambican side as well. This would mean not having to have two stops. The World Bank team is assisting Mozambique to move to a digital system in order for them to be in line with our system so we can hit the ground running. We are anticipating that the system will be up and running within the next six months,” said BMA deputy commissioner Major General David Chilembe.

According to him, the Lebombo Border Post is also up for major renovations in the upcoming months. “The process of redesigning and expanding the Lebombo Border is currently in the planning phase, as it will take the private partnership route. It is not yet clear when it will start, but we are anticipating that by the end of this year, the processes will have been completed and the companies that would be given the task, would then begin working,” he added.
The Mozambican government said it was happy to be part of this engagement, as it aimed to improve the mobility of people and goods between the two countries.

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In recent developments, a Dubai-based global sports giant, DP World, has invested over $2b (around R38b) in the Mozambican government for border expansions over the next 25 years. “Our aim is to create a one-stop border post that will ensure that traffic frustrations are eased at the border. This action plan we are committing to here today will be monitored every two months to ensure that it is executed efficiently. The investment by DP World will also help in ensuring that we transform, modernise and expand our ports. This includes the Lebombo Border Post. This will also ensure that our borders are bigger and have the right technology to ease traffic flow as we thrive to attract more investment and development on the Maputo Corridor,” said the permanent secretary of communication and transport in Mozambique, Ambrosio Sitoe.

The World Bank Group will be providing technical assistance and advisory support in the project.

“The expectation in the future is that these borders will not be in isolation, but they will share everything, including the challenges, so that we find common ways of dealing with them. The action plan was discussed during our first meeting in November, and today we will be signing it and making it official. This will ensure that modern border solutions materialise for the Lebombo and Ressano Garcia border posts. Signing this document means that we are committed to speeding up the truck processing to ensure non-stop movement of trucks between Kilometre 7 and Kilometre 4. Some of the long-term solutions to this issue include improving the railway capacity and consolidating a one-stop border post for commercial and tourism,” said Ernani Checcucci, senior trade facilitation specialist for the World Bank Group.