FORBES Border Post congestion has become entrenched, as surging trade along Zimbabwe’s Beira corridor overwhelms outdated infrastructure and exposes deep structural capacity constraints, businessdigest has learned.
Despite efforts to ease delays, the eastern gateway has moved far beyond its original design limits, now handling more than 1 000 commercial trucks daily, volumes the ageing facility was never built to absorb.
Originally conceived as a tourist crossing, Forbes now competes with, and in some months surpasses, Beitbridge Border Post in truck clearances.
Official statistics cited by state media earlier this month show that 88 660 outgoing commercial trucks were processed at Forbes Border Post between January and June 2025, compared with 62 964 at Beitbridge over the same period.
In response, government is working on upgrades that will add 500 truck parking bays at Forbes.
The surge reflects a structural shift in Zimbabwe’s export logistics, with the Beira corridor emerging as the preferred route for mineral and agricultural shipments.
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Trade through Forbes is dominated by chrome concentrates, ferrochrome, lithium, tobacco and tea, while imports include refined petroleum, electricity and fertilisers.
An estimated 75% of exports cleared at the post are ultimately destined for China, positioning Forbes as a critical artery in Zimbabwe’s global commodity supply chain.
As annual trade volumes climb into the hundreds of millions of United States dollars, delays at the border increasingly translate into higher logistics costs, longer turnaround times and mounting margin pressure for exporters.
“Traffic surges are still experienced, mainly due to the following factors, among others: Increased trade volumes following the upgrade of Beira Port, whose handling capacity has significantly improved; A good road network from Machipanda Frontier to Beira Port, making this route more attractive compared to distant ports such as Durban and Windhoek,” the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) told businessdigest in response to emailed questions.
“Inadequate border infrastructure that can no longer cope with increased traffic volumes; A narrow road network on the Zimbabwean side, which inhibits efficient movement to customs holding and clearance bays.
“Inadequate human and capital resources, impacting productivity levels; Slow uptake of the 24-hour operation by some clearing agents who facilitate bill of entry processing and traffic movement across the border,” it added.
The congestion at Forbes has laid bare the gap between infrastructure modernisation efforts and Zimbabwe’s expanding trade ambitions.
In its 2025 Import & Export Trade Analysis Report, Buy Zimbabwe noted that export earnings rose from US$6,06 billion in 2021 to US$9,71 billion by 2025.
Growth last year was driven by higher semi-manufactures, nickel mattes and tobacco exports, which together accounted for nearly three-quarters of total receipts.
Over the same period, imports climbed from US$7,37 billion to US$10,11 billion, largely on the back of energy-related products, diesel, petrol, liquefied petroleum gas and electricity, as well as key food commodities and fertilisers.
“The One-Stop Border Post concept has not yet been implemented, as bilateral engagements on the matter are still in progress,” Zimra said.
“This development is expected to be supported by the expansion of the one-way Munene River Bridge between Zimbabwe and Mozambique, which currently inhibits fast and efficient cross-border traffic movement.”
Authorities say several mitigation measures are now underway. Forbes is transitioning from pre-lodgement to full pre-clearance of customs documentation, a shift designed to eliminate post-crossing customs formalities as all imports will have been cleared and paid for in advance.
“Zimra and Alfândega (Mozambique’s national customs service) have agreed to implement a managed truck call-up system to regulate traffic flow across the bridge. Only trucks with completed customs formalities will be allowed access, reducing unnecessary congestion,” Zimra said.
“Zimra at Forbes intends to take control of the release process from clearing agents to reduce idle time and integrate this into the truck call-up system, ensuring that only trucks requiring physical inspection are detained. All others should enjoy express passage.”
The tax authority added that human and capital resource gaps are being addressed gradually, subject to financial capacity, in line with the demands of the 24-hour operation.
“Process delays due to intermittent network connectivity have been mitigated through the installation of more reliable Starlink connectivity,” Zimra said.
“All agents and supply chain partners engage in regular stakeholder strategy meetings.”