Challenges of Cross-Border Retail Trade in Southern Africa: The Case of Beitbridge Port of Entry between South Africa and Zimbabwe

Abstract

With the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), trade and exports between South Africa and the rest of Southern Africa is expected to increase. However, persistent challenges with South African Ports of Entry (PoE), particularly logistics and transport delays, may present negative implications for cross-border traders. The Beitbridge Border Post is the only legal land entry point between South Africa and Zimbabwe and the busiest PoE in Southern Africa with respect to traffic volume. Reports indicate that an average of 400 trucks, 120 businesses, and 1000 cross-border traders are processed at the Beitbridge PoE every day in addition to ordinary travellers. It is also an important part of the regional North-South Corridor (NSC) of transport that connects South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, and DRC. Despite the economic contribution of the Beitbridge PoE, it has always been at the centre of controversy regarding border management for decades. There are often scenes of congestion and long queues of trucks, buses and other vehicles that take days to be processed at the border post. Furthermore, there is little information on the impact of the delays in this PoE on cross-border traders operating within the import/export sector who are already facing many challenges, including transportation costs. That said, in this paper we examine the impact of rampant logistics and transport delays at the Beitbridge on cross-border trade and suggest some mitigating strategies.