Story by Memory Chamisa
Zimbabwe hosted a Trilateral Joint Route Management Committee meeting with South Africa and Zambia in Harare on Tuesday, with infrastructure development and ease of doing business reforms dominating deliberations.
The meeting focused on strengthening regional connectivity and improving corridor efficiency to enhance trade competitiveness among the three countries.
Zimbabwe highlighted ongoing upgrades to its road network, including the Beitbridge–Masvingo–Harare–
Head of the South Africa delegation, Mr Sibulele Dyodo, underscored the strategic importance of cooperation.
“Our cooperation is not merely administrative; it is strategic. Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Zambia are bound together by geography, by trade, and by a shared vision of a region that is integrated, competitive, and prosperous. The corridors that link our countries north, south, east–west, and across our borders are the lifelines of our economies. They support industry, agriculture, mining, manufacturing, and the livelihoods of millions of our citizens,” he said.
However, challenges along shared routes and border posts remain a concern.
Head of the Zambia delegation, Engineer Sydney Nyama said inefficiencies were increasing transport costs and undermining trade.
“We continue to face persistent challenges along our shared routes and border posts, challenges that undermine the efficiency of our transport systems and the competitiveness of our economies. Delays and increased journey times, longer trip turnaround cycles, higher demurrage costs, missed trade opportunities and High corridor costs. The net effect of corridor efficiency, if not addressed, undermines the fundamental role of transport corridors in facilitating trade and contributing to unsustainably high transport costs,” he said.
Zimbabwe’s Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Engineer Joy Makumbe reaffirmed the country’s commitment to regional integration.
“Our cooperation is not merely administrative; it is strategic. Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Zambia are bound together by geography, by trade, and by a shared vision of a region that is integrated, competitive, and prosperous. The corridors that link our countries north to south, east to west, and across our borders are the lifelines of our economies. They support industry, agriculture, mining, manufacturing, and the livelihoods of millions of our citizens,” she said.
Government says ongoing modernisation of border posts and road infrastructure is facilitating smoother movement of goods, strengthening Zimbabwe’s position as a key regional transit hub.
