The SADC Inter-Ministerial Task Force convened virtually on 11 April 2025 to deliberate on long-standing challenges affecting the Kasumbalesa Border Post, a key trade artery linking Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Chairing the session was Honourable Felix Tapiwa Mhona, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, who underscored the critical importance of the border to the regional economy and the livelihoods of millions. The Kasumbalesa crossing serves as a strategic node within the North-South Corridor, the Walvis Bay-Ndola-Lubumbashi Corridor, the Beira Development Corridor, and others — impacting the flow of goods across ten SADC Member States, namely Angola, Botswana, the DRC, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Delays in cargo movement, outdated infrastructure, inefficient customs systems, and security concerns were cited as major hindrances to trade. The ministers acknowledged that such challenges continue to inflate the cost of doing business and weaken SADC’s competitive advantage. In response, the meeting reviewed a proposed Action Plan aimed at developing infrastructure and facilitating trade along the region’s key economic corridors. The proposed interventions include the establishment of a One-Stop Border Post to streamline customs and immigration services, harmonisation of administrative processes, upgrading of infrastructure, and enhanced inter-agency collaboration. Digitalisation, improved security, and simplified regulations are expected to significantly ease congestion and improve turnaround times at the border.
Minister Mhona highlighted that resolving these challenges would not only benefit Zambia and the DRC, but would ripple across the broader regional value chain, opening up access for exporters, reducing delays, and boosting overall economic performance. The meeting reaffirmed SADC’s commitment to regional integration, peaceful problem-solving, and shared prosperity. Ministers expressed confidence that the coordinated approach to resolving bottlenecks at Kasumbalesa would serve as a model for other trade gateways across the region. The commitment from the ministers signaled a new chapter of cooperation and practical action, aimed at transforming Kasumbalesa from a persistent bottleneck into a dynamic trade enabler that advances SADC’s goals of deeper integration, job creation, and inclusive economic development.
