Border and port upgrades improve African trade
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Border and port upgrades improve African trade
Overlanders know that border crossings are a downside of multi-country travel in Africa.
By Leon Louw founder of WhyAfrica and Endorphin Expeditions
The introduction of One-Stop Border Posts (OSBPs) at several border crossings in Africa has made it much easier and quicker to clear customs and get your passport stamped.
During WhyAfrica’s Overland Road Trips through Africa over the last four years I’ve used OSBPs at Beitbridge between South Africa and Zimbabwe, Mwami/ Mchinji between Zambia and Malawi and Nakonde/Tunduma between Zambia and Tanzania.
There are also OSBPs between Zambia and the DRC and between Tanzania and Uganda.
Having experienced clearing these borders before the OSBPs were introduced, I can personally vouch for a much better and more pleasant experience.
Zambia constrained by geography
The opening of the Chanida Cassacatiza OSBP facility between Zambia and Mozambique is fantastic news for Zambian exporters for example.
Zambia’s economic competitiveness is often constrained by its landlocked geography. For an export driven economy every border delay translates into additional costs.
Zambia relies on multiple regional exit corridors to reach international markets.
The most important ports currently serving Zambian trade include Durban (South Africa), Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), Walvis Bay (Namibia), Beira (Mozambique) and Nacala (Mozambique).
Ports important for exports
These corridors carry the bulk of Zambia’s copper cathodes and concentrates, cobalt, manganese, tobacco, sugar, maize, cotton, timber and gemstones.
The Nacala and Beira corridors are particularly important for eastern Zambia and for exporters targeting Asian and Middle Eastern markets due to their shorter transit distances and lower shipping times.
However, border inefficiencies have long undermined these advantages. Prior to OSBP implementation, the Chanida–Cassacatiza crossing involved duplicated customs, immigration, and cargo inspections, often resulting in multi-day delays, congestion, and unpredictable clearance times.
The new OSBP model integrates Zambian and Mozambican border formalities into a single clearance process, dramatically reducing paperwork, inspection duplication, and transit times.
Volumes expected to increase
According to Zambia’s Ministry of Commerce, the facility will cut border processing times by more than 50%, reduce transport costs, improve export competitiveness, and stimulate logistics led investment in the Eastern Province of Zambia.
Exports currently using the Chanida corridor include copper products, agricultural commodities, cement, fertilizer, tobacco, timber and fuel imports destined for Zambia’s eastern and central provinces.
With the OSBP operational, volumes moving via Beira and Nacala ports are expected to increase sharply.
Both Beira and Nacala are currently upgrading their port facilities. Nacala’s expansion will increase its lifting capacity to more than 10 million tonnes annually, while Beira continues phased modernisation to accommodate larger vessels and faster container handling.
Image: WhyAfrica at the Beira Port. Image credit: Leon Louw for WhyAfrica
Border and port upgrades improve African trade