Source: Forbes Border Post upgrade gathers pace as 500-truck staging area takes shape – herald
Freeman Razemba
Senior Reporter
CONSTRUCTION of a new temporary truck staging area with capacity for 500 haulage trucks is underway at Forbes Border Post in Mutare, marking a major milestone in Government’s ongoing efforts to modernise the country’s trade gateways.
The development is part of a wider upgrade project aimed at easing chronic congestion at one of Zimbabwe’s busiest ports of entry and transforming it into a modern trade facilitation hub.
Forbes Border Post, which links Zimbabwe with Mozambique, is a critical transit point for nearly half of the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) region and handles more than 1 000 commercial trucks daily.
Originally established as a tourist clearing point before independence, Forbes has gradually evolved into a vital artery for regional trade due to its proximity to Mozambique’s Port of Beira.
However, the surge in cross-border freight over the years has overwhelmed its existing infrastructure, leading to persistent gridlocks and costly delays for transporters.
According to the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, the latest works mark the beginning of significant transformation.
Bush clearing and earthworks have begun for the new off-site parking and clearing facilities near the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID) site in Mutare.
“The Forbes Border Post upgrade is well underway,” said the ministry.
“A new interim truck staging area is now taking shape at the proposed VID site. This key project is designed to decongest the Beira Road by providing dedicated parking for 500 trucks, which will ease traffic flow and turnaround times. We are happy to report that work on the truck staging area (prior to the construction of permanent structures) is on schedule and is targeting completion in early December 2025.”
The border modernisation follows the signing of a concession agreement between the Government and the Forbes Border Consortium on January 28 this year. The preparatory phase has included site surveys, drainage works, earthworks and the establishment of temporary facilities to ease congestion while permanent infrastructure is being developed.
The Forbes project builds on the success of the Beitbridge Border Post transformation, now considered a regional benchmark for efficiency, and runs parallel to upgrades at the Chirundu One-Stop Border Post.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development Engineer Joy Makumbe said the initiative is pivotal to the Government’s vision of modernising trade infrastructure and aligning border operations with global standards.
The upgrade also coincides with plans by Zimbabwe and Zambia to extend 24-hour operations to the Victoria Falls and Chirundu border posts starting next month (December). Officials say this move will boost trade and tourism while improving the movement of goods and people across the region.
The post Forbes Border Post upgrade gathers pace as 500-truck staging area takes shape appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.