Harare – Truck drivers operating along the Beira route have sounded the alarm over what they describe as unbearable delays at the Forbes/Machipanda Border Post between Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
In a strongly worded letter addressed to the Commissioner General of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA), the concerned drivers detailed how queues stretching over 30 kilometres have become a regular sight, with some transporters forced to wait up to five days just to clear customs and immigration formalities.
The drivers blame the chaos on limited staffing at the arrivals desk, slow processing systems—particularly for empty Mozambique-bound trucks requiring TIPs—and poor coordination between Zimbabwean and Mozambican border agencies.
They further highlighted the dire conditions faced by truckers while stuck in the queues. With no access to toilets, water, or proper resting facilities, drivers are left vulnerable to health risks such as open defecation, while extreme fatigue from sleepless nights increases the likelihood of serious road accidents once they resume driving.
“This situation not only affects transport businesses and drivers but also tarnishes Zimbabwe’s image as a regional trade hub,” the drivers said.
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The truckers are urging ZIMRA to urgently implement several measures, including the creation of larger parking areas on the Zimbabwean side, boosting staff numbers, enhancing digital clearance systems, and engaging Mozambican counterparts to streamline seal and net removal procedures.
They also called for the establishment of a dedicated complaints desk to give drivers a platform for feedback.
The Forbes/Machipanda crossing is one of Southern Africa’s busiest trade corridors, linking Zimbabwe and neighbouring countries to the Mozambican port of Beira. However, ongoing congestion continues to choke the flow of goods, piling pressure on an already struggling transport sector.
ZIMRA has not yet issued a public response to the drivers’ demands.
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