Zimbabwe is taking a leading role in advocating for cost-efficient transport systems among landlocked developing countries, as the nation collaborates with the United Nations to address one of Africa’s long-standing economic challenges, high transport and logistics costs that hinder trade competitiveness.
The country’s proactive stance was underscored during the national workshop jointly organized by the Government of Zimbabwe and the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) in Harare. The workshop focused on strategies to quantify, analyze, and reduce trade and transport costs while strengthening data-driven decision-making.
For Zimbabwe, which relies heavily on regional transit routes to ports in Mozambique, South Africa, and Namibia, reducing transport costs is not merely a logistical concern but an economic necessity. The cost of moving goods through multiple borders inflates export prices, weakens competitiveness, and limits the country’s participation in global markets. By collaborating with the UN, Zimbabwe is signaling a shift toward smarter, evidence-based policies that connect infrastructure development with efficient trade facilitation.
Officials emphasized that the discussions are not just about figures and formulas, they are about people, livelihoods, and economic transformation. Lowering transport costs can unlock immense opportunities for local producers, small-scale exporters, and industries seeking access to international markets. The approach also aligns with President Mnangagwa’s economic vision, which prioritizes regional integration, infrastructure modernization, and the creation of an enabling environment for trade under Vision 2030.
The workshop explored innovative analytical tools such as the Time Cost Distance Model and other efficiency indicators that can help governments pinpoint where delays, inefficiencies, or policy gaps exist. These tools are expected to guide the formulation of evidence-based transport and trade strategies that can directly reduce the “landlocked penalty” faced by Zimbabwe and its regional counterparts.
Beyond cost analysis, the initiative underscores the need for cooperation among transport agencies, customs authorities, and private players. Harmonizing regulations, improving cross-border digital systems, and investing in multimodal transport networks are essential steps toward achieving regional connectivity. Participants also stressed that investment in digital infrastructure, smart logistics, and public-private partnerships could dramatically enhance competitiveness and attract new trade opportunities.
Zimbabwe’s engagement with the UN and development partners reflects a growing recognition that sustainable growth depends on how efficiently goods can move from production to market. The workshop not only positions Zimbabwe as a thought leader in transport policy for landlocked nations but also demonstrates its readiness to translate research and technical dialogue into real, measurable progress.
As discussions continue, Zimbabwe’s commitment to tackling high transport costs offers hope for a more integrated regional economy, one where being landlocked no longer means being left behind. The outcomes of this collaboration are expected to shape stronger transport corridors, faster trade routes, and a more inclusive path to economic development for Zimbabwe and its neighboring states.
