Zim, Zambia sign Vic Falls OSBP to expedite clearance during UNWTO

via Zim, Zambia sign Vic Falls OSBP to expedite clearance during UNWTO | The Zimbabwean  by Zivai Maenzanise

Zimbabwe and Zambia have signed the Victoria Falls One Stop Border Post Bilateral Agreement to expedite clearance and create a seamless border for the 20th United Nations World Tourism Organisation general assembly co-hosted by the two countries.

The agreement was signed by the Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe and his Zambian counterpart, President Michael Sata.

While the signing agreement is limited to the period covering the UNWTO conference which runs from August 24 to 29, a permanent arrangement is under development.

The Victoria Falls Border Post bilateral initiative is a reflection of the continued strengthening of the political and economic ties that exist between the two countries.

It will be operational for 24 hours, thereby providing significant improvements to cross border management for both commercial traffic and travellers from both countries to reduce waiting clearance times.

Border authorities from both countries will also perform joint controls and enforcement in one place.

The benefits that accrue from this arrangement include elimination of duplication of border agencies interventions, reduction of clearance for both cargo and travellers as well as the reduction of transaction cost.

This becomes the second One Stop Border Post bilateral agreement between the two countries following the Chirundu One Stop Border Post signed on December 5, 2009.

The Chirundu OSBP is the first of its kind in Africa and now a flagship in SADC and Africa.

It has seen a huge improvement in the movement of goods between the two countries and has since won the SADC accolade as the first such OSBP to be implemented in Africa.