Growing freight volumes through Zimbabwes Beitbridge border post are reinforcing its strategic role in regional trade, but high operating costs and pressure on infrastructure are forcing operators to reconsider routing and coordination models. Transporters report that crossing fees and operational charges remain a significant barrier to efficient movement. For each truck, companies are paying no less than R4 000 when crossing on the Zimbabwe side. This cost to do business remains a major problem, said one of the transporters Freight News spoke to. He noted that while many of the charges were linked to infrastructure investment, it was becoming increasingly difficult for operators to absorb the growing costs. Higher pricing at Beitbridge has driven a diversion of truck flows toward Groblersbrug on the Botswana border, creating unplanned pressure on a narrow single-lane bridge that predates modern freight demand. The shift has also highlighted the broader regulatory environment on the NorthSouth Corridor, where Zimbabwes dangerous- goods monitoring model has emerged as a strong example of enforcement and routing discipline. Movements are tracked using technology, and transit conditions are tightly managed, but layered checks and repeated verifications remain a hindrance to faster transit. Borders are also about generating revenue, so letting go of certain systems brings a reduction to their fiscus. You are asking countries to sacrifice when you ask them to simplify, but easier trade ultimately grows volumes for everyone, said another operator, who also preferred to remain anonymous. Harmonising axle-load rules and border processes under the Tripartite Transport and Transit Facilitation Programme remains a long- term objective for the region. Experts agree that permanent corridor institutions will be essential for long-term competitiveness. Without coordination, the region will continue to have unplanned diversions, infrastructure strain and enforcement inconsistencies. Stronger partnerships are the only way forward, with many citing the Walvis Bay and Lobito corridors as examples of consistent improvement. LV
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