In a bid to turn a famed tourist hotspot into a model of cross-border cooperation, officials from Zambia and Zimbabwe are meeting in Livingstone Zambia to hash out a plan to dramatically streamline travel and trade between their two nations.
The high-level gathering in Livingstone, Zambia’s tourism capital, signals a fresh push to transform the often-congested Victoria Falls border crossing. The talks, which began on Tuesday, are a direct follow-up to a pledge made by the countries’ presidents earlier this month to strengthen ties.
A key and immediate goal is to implement a decision to keep the border post open 24 hours a day, a move long sought by businesses and tour operators to ease bottlenecks that can frustrate visitors and stifle commerce.
“We are tasked with translating that strategic vision into concrete measures,” said Zambia’s Tourism Minister, Rodney Sikumba, as he opened the meeting. Sikumba outlined an ambitious vision to create a border that acts as a “facilitation point rather than a bottleneck.”
The plan goes beyond just longer hours. The two neighbours are aiming to create a seamless, “smart” border experience. On the table are plans to automate customs and immigration, form joint technical committees, and improve facilities for the millions of tourists who visit the shared natural wonder of Victoria Falls, known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya, or “The Smoke That Thunders.”
The initiative draws inspiration from the successful one-stop border post at Chirundu, further north, which has significantly reduced transit times for trucks. This effort also aligns with larger African agreements, like the continental free trade pact, aiming to make cross-border movement easier.
For locals, the changes could be transformative. The minister highlighted the need to improve the movement and safety of small-scale traders and entrepreneurs who rely on the border for their livelihoods.
The success of this ambitious vision will depend on coordination between various government departments—from tourism and trade to immigration and finance—as well as strong buy-in from the private sector.
If successful, the collaboration promises not just a smoother journey for tourists gazing at one of the world’s great waterfalls, but also more jobs and economic growth for the communities that call this borderland home.
Breeze FM