Chirundu One Stop Border Post

How the one-stop model works

A 25 January 2017 presentation by Dingani Banda of ZRA describes Chirundu as a hybrid model. It mixes total separation, joint border operations and shared facilities, with a Common Control Zone ¹.

Zambia's One-Stop Border Control Act lets officers of both countries carry out border controls in a control zone. The laws of Zambia and the adjoining state both apply there. Acts by Zambians at a one-stop post in the neighbouring state are treated as done in Zambia if they would be offences under Zambian law ².

The President may sign one-stop agreements with neighbouring states. The Minister must lay an agreement before Cabinet and publish it in the Gazette within fourteen days of signing ².

Legal framework and set-up

• Bilateral Agreement between Zambia and Zimbabwe on the establishment of a One Stop Border Post at Chirundu ¹
• Zimbabwe One Stop Border Post Control Act, No. 21 of 2007 ¹
• Zambia One Stop Border Control Act, No. 8 of 2009 ¹
• New border buildings were completed by both countries in 2007, followed by legislation, procedures and training up to 2009 ¹
• A new bridge links the two facilities, and fixed non-intrusive scanners sit on the Zambian side ¹

Agencies at the border

The 2017 ZRA presentation counted 16 other government agencies on the Zambian side and 9 on the Zimbabwean side, in addition to customs ¹. In 2020 the World Customs Organization referred to 17 border agencies at the post ³.

ZRA lists Chirundu as one of its busy stations. Clearing agent managers there need Grade 12 or Form V and one year of customs clearing experience plus two years in a supervisory or managerial role ⁵.

Release times and past delays

Zambia's Ministry of Finance said in November 2017 that Chirundu was created in 2009 to clear commercial trucks in no more than eight hours. It said the post was no longer working as intended, with trucks taking as long as two weeks. Finance Minister Felix Mutati called the change a fall to eight days or more. ZRA Commissioner General Kingsley Chanda acknowledged weaknesses on the customs side ⁶.

The National Trade Facilitation Committee launched a Time Release Study for Chirundu on 18 September 2020. Run in December 2019 with World Customs Organization help, it focused on imports. Average clearance and release times fell from 5 to 6 days to 2 to 3 days by March 2020 after ZRA acted on early recommendations ³.

Upgrade projects

Chirundu is one of three borders in the Zambia Border Posts Upgrading Project, with Mwami and Nakonde. TradeMark Africa reported on 27 July 2023 that the project is funded under the 11th European Development Fund through COMESA and valued at €6.8 million ⁷. COMESA listed the same three borders under its Trade Facilitation Programme in August 2022 ⁸.

At the launch of a North-South Corridor time release report on 7 February 2025, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority said the Zimbabwean government was refurbishing and modernising Chirundu border. It said traffic would be disrupted during the works ⁴.