Politics bedevils expansion of one-stop border post concept

There are several one-stop border posts (OSBP) in the pipeline in southern Africa, but politics is inhibiting progress. With only the Chirundu border post between Zambia and Zimbabwe operating as an OSBP, several other countries are working hard at getting their own one-stop borders. According to Barney Curtis, executive director of the Federation of East and Southern African Road Transport Associations (Fesarta), the establishment of a border post firstly requires a bilateral agreement between the two countries in question. “Then both countries need legislation allowing them to operate in another country,” he said. “This is not a quick process and takes time. “You cannot have a one-stop border post without legislation in place that allows Customs officials from another country to operate within your jurisdiction, as well as legislation allowing your own officials to operate in another country,” explained Curtis. “It is a politically complex situation. Only once the legislation has been passed by each individual country’s parliament can the physical work start of turning a border post into a one-stop facility. In many cases in southern Africa it will require some infrastructure upgrades to the facilities.”