Truck drivers are forced to queue for 20 kilometers to be processed on the Beitbridge Port of Entry in Musina.
LONG distance truck drivers say the long queue of trucks on the N1 near Beitbridge Border Post has been unbearable over the past few days.
The overwhelming congestion on roads in and around the border town of Musina has left many cross country trucks frustrated for long hours.
Authorities say the backlog was caused mainly by limited parking space and slow scanning and screening procedures on the Zimbabwean side of the border.
South African border operations, including immigration, customs and inspections, say they have continued to function normally.
Freight trucks stretch for up to 20 kilometres along the corridor leading to the busy border post. Drivers spent long hours, and in some cases days, waiting on the long and slow moving queue.
The overnight clearance of hundreds of trucks has brought welcome relief to the transport corridor and to the town of Musina.
The Border Management Authority (BMA) has confirmed that systems on the South African side are operating efficiently. Officials are in contact with their Zimbabwean counterparts to find ways of speeding up the movement of cargo and reducing the backlog further.
Beitbridge remains one of the busiest commercial crossing points in southern Africa, handling large volumes of goods destined for Zimbabwe, Zambia and further north.
Any slowdown quickly creates long queues that affect drivers, cargo owners and the local economy in Musina.
During the longer delays, some drivers raised concerns about safety, especially at night, when they had to leave trucks unattended to buy food or rest. With the queue now shorter, the immediate pressure has eased.
Mmemme Mogotsi, Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Communications and Marketing says they continue to monitor the situation closely.
“Traffic flow is improving gradually, and further progress depends on sustained cooperation between the two sides of the border to keep trucks moving efficiently;” she says.