President Hakainde Hichilema has commissioned Phase One of the upgraded Nakonde One Stop Border Post (OSBP) in Nakonde District of Muchinga Province.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony today Thursday, President Hichilema described the facility as a major milestone for trade, revenue generation and regional integration. He said the modernised border post would improve the movement of goods and people between Zambia and Tanzania.
“The modernised border post will enhance efficiency in the movement of goods and people between Zambia and Tanzania. There is a need to move towards a single digital identity system to further ease cross-border movement,” President Hichilema said.
He noted that Zambia had not fully utilised the potential of the Nakonde Border Post in the past, resulting in slow clearance processes and limited earnings for clearing agents.
President Hichilema said the upgraded infrastructure would increase government revenue, which would support social programmes such as free education, teacher recruitment, provision of desks, improved water and sanitation, and the school feeding programme.
He also commended traditional leaders in the area for providing land for the project and acknowledged the support of cooperating partners, including the British High Commission, contractors and the local community.
The President said the Nakonde One Stop Border Post aligns with the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area by facilitating trade and improving regional connectivity. He added that Phase Two of the project is expected to commence soon.
President Hichilema further announced that government was accelerating other strategic projects, including the Zambia-Tanzania power interconnector, the revitalisation of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority and the expansion of the pipeline to improve transportation of petroleum products.
He also revealed that construction of an international airport in Nakonde’s Mwenzo area had begun, saying the facility would transform the district into a key economic hub.
“We do not want Nakonde to be just a transit point, but an interconnector to different markets. Zambia is not landlocked but land-linked,” he said.
Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development Minister Charles Milupi said Phase One of the project, funded by the British Government, included the procurement and installation of a modern drive-through cargo scanner capable of scanning more than 100 trucks per hour.
He said the phase also covered the construction of a truck parking yard, warehouses, offices, a verification shed, customs enforcement buildings, and other supporting infrastructure, including electrical installations and drainage systems.
Mr Milupi added that the World Bank had provided a grant of US$19.6 million to support Phase Two of the project.
He noted that Nakonde Border, together with its twin border of Tunduma in Tanzania, is one of the busiest entry and exit points for cargo in the region.
The Nakonde OSBP is strategically located along the North-South and Dar es Salaam Corridors, serving as a key gateway to the port of Dar es Salaam and facilitating imports and exports.
The project has been implemented by the Government of Zambia with support from TradeMark Africa.
The One Stop Border Post concept allows for joint processing by Zambia and Tanzania, reducing crossing times, improving efficiency and strengthening regional trade integration.
