New border post on cards

GOVERNMENT has made significant progress towards establishing a border post at Katiyo in Manicaland Province, to facilitate the smooth flow of people and goods between Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

Substantial revenue has been lost by governments of the two countries, as people smuggled goods through the port of entry, which has no infrastructure or personnel manning it.

Manicaland provincial administrator Mr Edgar Seenza said a committee had been put in place to work on the modalities.

“Agreements have already been made between various stakeholders. We have Eastern Highlands Tea plantations on standby ready to finance the construction of infrastructure at the border post and the paperwork is being drawn up by the district administrator in Mutasa,” he said.

Government has lined up the establishment of three border posts as part of the border expansion project that seeks to establish three more posts at Katiyo, Burma Valley and Cashel Valley.

Mr Seenza said the establishment of the other two ports would be commenced with cooperation between the governments of Zimbabwe and Mozambique having already started.

“The project will also seek to expand the Forbes-Machipanda Border Post to reduce congestion that has seen truckers stay for days without being cleared.

“Government is also seeking to install CCTV cameras at the border post to reduce cases of corruption,” he said.