DEPARTMENT for International Development (DFID) has released 100 million pounds (about K773.3 billion) for the TradeMark-Southern Africa programme which is meant to support works on reducing delays at five other border posts in the region.

And Chirundu One Stop Border Post project manager Kingsley Chanda said the improvement of infrastructure at borders would help to reduce the cost of doing business in the region.

During the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and East African Community (EAC) tripartite press briefing in Lusaka yesterday, head of DFID Southern Africa Helen Mealins said DFID believed that investing in physical infrastructure such as border posts as well as improving regulatory environment for trade and transport along the North South Corridor, would transform trading and investment opportunities in the region and increase the region’s prospect for generating growth, creating jobs and reducing poverty.

Mealins said this in a speech read for her by DFID Regional Growth and Trade adviser Liz Winton.
“Delays at border posts along the North-South Corridor are one of the biggest constraints to trade in the region,” she said. “They increase costs for businesses, making exports uncompetitive and imports more expensive.”

Mealins observed that transport costs were serious constraints to economic growth especially for landlocked countries.

“Once the single stop becomes operational, delays at Chirundu will fall by 30-50 per cent. A reduction in waiting times will reduce costs for businesses and increase their competitiveness by ensuring that products reach markets faster,” said Mealins.

And Chanda said Zambia and Zimbabwe had managed to finalise the legal framework which would be used once the project was implemented.

“We have also worked on a detailed bilateral agreement which was signed between the two governments in August 2008,” said Chanda.

And Japanese ambassador to Zambia Hideto Mitamura said the Chirundu One Stop Border Post would help enhance trade in the region.

The Chirundu One Stop Border Post is expected to be launched this Saturday by President Rupiah Banda and Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.

Ambassador Mitamura said the Japanese government would like to work with African countries to ensure that they not only improved trade but grew their economies and reduced poverty in their respective countries through such projects.