Truck drivers who use the Machipanda border crossing between Mozambique and Zimbabwe are demanding changes to customs procedures, claiming that the slow clearance of goods has caused long waits and high operating costs, according to the newspaper Noticias.
Although the border operates 24 hours a day, the rigidity of the processes, especially on the Zimbabwean side, continues to generate congestion, with some drivers reporting delays of up to three days to cross.
Hauliers report that even when lorries leave Mozambique unladen, they are still forced to face long queues due to slow customs procedures.
Pedro Faifetin, one of the lorry drivers affected, says that the main problem is the lack of flexibility on the Zimbabwean side. ‘We’ve been stuck for days with no clear explanation. Even without a load, the procedures are still bureaucratic, which costs us time and money,’ he lamented.
The situation has also caused frustration among Zimbabwean hauliers. Felix Zondue, a truck driver from that country, recognises the slowness on his side of the border and argues that ‘the authorities need to find solutions to speed up this process.’
In recent days, there has been a slight improvement in the flow of trucks, with queues reducing from ten to around three kilometres, an advance attributed to coordination between the Mozambican and Zimbabwean authorities. However, lorry drivers warn that this relief is only temporary and insist that structural reforms are needed to prevent further congestion.
Customs sources in Manica province indicate that the increase in traffic at Machipanda is partly due to the growth in the movement of goods through the Beira corridor, a factor driven by the instability that has affected the border crossing at Ressano Garcia in Maputo province.
With the growing pressure on Machipanda, hauliers are calling for urgent dialogue between Mozambique and Zimbabwe to simplify customs procedures, reduce waiting times and minimise the economic impact of delays. For many, only with concrete reforms will it be possible to guarantee an efficient and sustainable flow of cross-border trade.
