New Tanzania-Zambia 'One Stop Border Post' to boost cross border trade

Jan 30, 2017: The newly introduced Tanzania and Zambia One Stop Border Post (OSBP) at the Tunduma-Nakonde border will ease and boost trade between the two countries. The operations at this post will start on February 1.

The two countries have already signed an agreement on how the OSBP will be operating.

The decision to establish the OSBP came as part of implementing orders issued by the presidents of the two countries, John Magufuli and Edgar Lungu. The two leaders issued the order in Dar es Salaam when Zambian President Lungu visited the East African nation last month.

The signing ceremony of the key document was held at Vwawa town few kilometers from the Tunduma-Nakonde border, whereby Tanzania was represented by Amina KhamisShaaban, Finance and Planning Deputy Minister and Adolf Mkenda, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.

Zambia was represented by KayulaSiame, the permanent secretary in the ministry of Commerce, Trade, and Industry.

Tanzania's Amina said that the Tunduma-Nakonde OSBP combines two stops for national border control processing into one and consolidates border control functions in a shared space for exiting one country and entering another.

She explained that the post will be using simplified procedures and joint processing wherever appropriate.

She further disclosed that the border facility is aimed at reducing transit costs incurred in cross-border movement by combining the activities of both country's border organizations and agencies.

According to the Tanzania's deputy minister, the post will ease trade between the two nations, as goods will be inspected once as all authorities will be operating under one roof.