This archive report was first published on 13 May 2020.
May 11, 2020, marked the beginning of a challenging period for the economies of Tanzania, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Zimbabwe, as the Tunduma-Nakonde border crossing point between Zambia and Tanzania was closed in the fight against Covid-19.
The border closure, which was effective from May 11, has left cargo stranded, including petroleum products that could easily explode, according to Edward Urio, President of the Tanzania Freight Forwarders Association (Taffa).
Goods worth an estimated $1.5 billion annually, which pass through the border to destinations in Zambia, DRC, and Zimbabwe, have been disrupted, with stakeholders calling for a swift resolution to ensure these countries are not adversely affected.
On average, over 70 percent of goods in transit, which are imported through Dar es Salaam port, are transported across the Tunduma-Nakonde border, as data produced at the launching of the convertibility of the Tanzanian shilling and the Zambian kwacha in February this year show.
According to Zambian Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya, the border closure will allow for cleaning, disinfection, and Covid-19 testing to be conducted in Nakonde, as well as the retraining of immigration staff on how to deal with the entry of persons and goods.
However, the closure has already started to have a significant impact on the economies of the affected countries, with the cost of doing business rising due to demurrage and the uncertainty of when the border will reopen.
