THE Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) has said it is battling increased volumes of traffic at Forbes Border Post amid calls for authorities to fast-track the long-awaited modernisation project at what has become the country’s busiest port of entry and exit.
The surge in traffic followed the transformation of Forbes to a 24-hour border facility in January last year. Previously, operations ran for 14 hours daily, closing at 10pm.
According to Zimra, traffic volumes have been swelled by a boom in the mining industry, which has seen an increase in the movement of heavy commercial vehicles, as well as rising importation of farming inputs ahead of the agricultural season.
However, the infrastructure at the border is incompatible with these increasing demands. Designed primarily as a tourist-facilitation post decades ago, Forbes now handles commercial volumes far beyond its intended capacity. The border is clearing around 1 100 trucks daily, for both incoming and outgoing traffic — a figure that has overwhelmed existing facilities, causing delays, congestion and inefficiencies.
This mismatch between demand and infrastructure underscores the urgency of modernising the post.
Accelerating the upgrade is critical not only to ease present pressures but also to protect Zimbabwe’s strategic economic interests. Forbes is a key component of the Beira Corridor, which is fast becoming the preferred gateway for traders shipping goods between Zimbabwe, Mozambique and the broader Sadc region.
Any inefficiencies at the border risk diverting regional traffic elsewhere, undermining Zimbabwe’s role as a transit hub.
Last year, Cabinet approved a public-private partnership between the Transport and Infrastructural Development ministry and the Forbes Border Consortium to upgrade the post. The consortium will undertake the project under a design-build-finance-operate-and-maintain model. The arrangement is expected to reduce fiscal pressure on the government while leveraging on private capital and royalty payments over the project’s lifespan.
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The modernisation project covers extensive renovations of existing buildings, the construction of new structures, weighbridges, roads and parking facilities, and significant integration of advanced ICT systems. The upgrade will also overhaul traffic-processing systems and provide new staff accommodation — measures expected to dramatically improve efficiency, security and service delivery.
Authorities believe an upgraded post will boost Zimbabwe’s competitiveness by improving traffic control along the Beira Corridor, enhancing its appeal as a preferred transit route and increasing Treasury collections through enhanced monitoring and revenue-collection capabilities. A modern Forbes Border Post is also seen as a crucial enabler for the country to benefit fully from the African Continental Free Trade Area by ensuring faster and more predictable movement of goods.
Presenting the 2026 National Budget, Finance minister Mthuli Ncube cited the modernisation of Beitbridge Border Post as proof of the transformative impact of such investments. He noted that the government will pursue similar upgrades for Chirundu and Forbes border posts and will continue to capacitate border management agencies through improved tools of trade, accommodation and modern security systems. Treasury allocated ZiG322,4 million towards the upgrade of border posts in 2026.
Upgrading border infrastructure is already proving its worth. The US$70 million Beitbridge modernisation significantly reduced processing times and eliminated chronic congestion. According to the Public Infrastructure Development Group, non-commercial drivers now spend an average of three hours crossing the border, while commercial traffic now requires a median of 14 hours — a dramatic improvement from the previous 35 to 65-hour delays.
With Forbes now surpassing Beitbridge in truck volumes, modernising the port is no longer simply desirable — it is imperative for trade, revenue generation, regional integration and national competitiveness.
