Improving the Border Agency Cooperation
Among the OIC Member States for Facilitating Trade
35
HLED allows critical issues to be taken into consideration seriously and later to mandate the
corresponding authority to execute the necessary measures.
2.3. Case Zambia – Zimbabwe
Highlights:
 The Chirundu One-Stop Border Post (OSBP) between Zambia and Zimbabwe is considered to
be the leading OSBP in Africa, with a high-degree of practical cooperation in place.
 Reported OSBP benefits in Chirundu include (i) improved clearance time of less than a day,
(ii) reduced cost of doing business, (iii) information sharing among border agencies and (iv)
drastic reduction of fraud, among several other benefits.
 A major challenge when implementing the Chirundu OSPB appears to have been erratic and
bureaucratic disbursement of funds for the project.
2.3.1. Setting the scene for iBAC
There is an important trade flow between Zambia and Zimbabwe, Zambia being the fourth
biggest export destination for Zimbabwe, and Zimbabwe being the sixth biggest export
destination for Zambia. In 2015 the export value from Zambia to Zimbabwe was 267 MUSD
(3.8% of total exports from Zambia), the top five export products being: cereals; soaps,
lubricants, waxes, candles and modelling pastes; residues, wastes of food industry; articles of
iron or steel; and beverages, spirits and vinegar. During the same year, the export value from
Zimbabwe to Zambia was 92 MUSD (3.4% of total exports from Zimbabwe), the top five export
products being: wood and articles from wood; fish, crustaceans, molluscs, aquatic
invertebrates; paper and paperboard, articles of pulp, paper and board; electrical and
electronic equipment; and fertilisers.51
The main border crossing between the two countries is called Chirundu Border Post, which is
located 140 km east of Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, over the Zambezi River. This border post
receives traffic not only from Zambia to Zimbabwe, but it also serves as a trade gateway for
Zambia with other African countries and as a gateway to the sea ports in South Africa. In the
past, Chirundu Border Post used to have a poor infrastructure. It also had more than twenty
Government agencies present – from both countries – enforcing various pieces of legislation in
an isolated manner. All in all, the high costs and long lead-times associated with the
management of this border were a major problem for the trade.
In this context, the Chirundu One-Stop Border Post, OSBP, was launched in December 2009, as
a pilot of a trade facilitation project under the North South Corridor (NSC), which is conjunct
joint initiative by the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), Common Market for
Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and East Africa Community (EAC) regions. This OSBP
pilot project was implemented through the Regional Trade Program (RTFP), with the financial
support of the Department for International Development (DFID), the Japan International Co-
operation Agency (JICA) and the World Bank.52
51 (accessed 15 April 2016).
52 Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Zimbabwe, 2011