•Kasumbalesa border is strategic to the Government as trade between DRC and Zambia projects a trade surplus for the country.

By MOFFAT CHAZINGWA –

KASUMBALESA border, which marks the boundary between Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is one of the busiest international crossing points this side of the African region.
The border, located about 18 kilometres from Chililabombwe, has over the years been heavily congested going by the huge volume of trade between Zambia and the DRC.
With DRC being the biggest partner to Zambia in terms of trade followed by South Africa, it goes without saying that Kasumbalesa border is strategic to the Government and the nation as a whole as trade between DRC and Zambia projects a trade surplus for the country.
Before the products getting into Zambia via border points such as Katimamulilo, Chirundu, Kazungula and Nakonde could land into the DRC, the majority of them pass through Kasumbalesa.
It is considered the safest transit point because of the well-coordinated and improved road network linking the crossing point.
The improvements in borders like Katimamulilo, whose infrastructure has been upgraded to facilitate movement of more traffic, Chirundu which has been upgraded to a one-stop border point and is now operating 24 hours, Kazungula where a bridge was constructed, and Nakonde whose operational hours have been increased, have all led to concentration at Kasumbalesa.
It is because of some of these factors that Kasumbalesa has been heavily concentrated until recently when Government took the initiative to upgrade the border.
A check at Kasumbalesa by the Copperbelt Times during the week found the process of upgrading the border had taken a full swing.
Previously, the station manager at Kasumbalesa only had the rank of a collector, but it has since gone up to senior collector.
Furthermore, the office of regional assistant commissioner which was based in Kitwe has also been moved to Kasumbalesa in the same capacity.
Border authorities said the reason behind all this was to strengthen decision making at the station.
Other reasons for the Government’s decision to upgrade Kasumbalesa are to help provide easier operational systems for the purpose of trade facilitation, as well as to help in the management of the increased staff and resources at the station.
Kasumbalesa has lately recorded an increase of traffic crossing the point which has been seen from about 400 trucks crossing either way of the border point to a maximum of 900 trucks crossing either way every day.
It is this huge volume of traffic that necessitated the upgrade of Kasumbalesa with border authorities confidently stating that of late, the issue of traffic congestion in terms of trucks on the Zambian side spending more than 48 hours being a thing of the past.
However, it is worth noting that any delays at one of the other borders have the potential to affect Kasumbalesa.
Border authorities revealed that Government was currently considering making Kasumbalesa operate 24 hours.
This is apart from the facility being turned into a one-stop border post to address traffic concentration.