South Africa’s northern supply chain border post with Botswana, Groblersbrug, was once more renowned for 4×4 excursions to exotic locations than for heavy cargo logistics. However, it has recently become plagued by severe road freight congestion since the Department of Home Affairs implemented a biometric system designed to capture the data of pedestrians, travelers, and truck drivers. While this initiative is part of the Border Management Authority’s (BMA) ongoing efforts
Category: Southern Africa
South Africa’s Container Throughput Declines Amid Operational Challenges and Court Ruling
Following a relatively stable performance at the end of September, the beginning of October saw an 8% decline in container throughput at South African ports, dropping from a daily average of 8,072 to 7,384 containers week-on-week. The latest Cargo Movement Update, compiled by the South African Association of Freight Forwarders and Business Unity SA, indicated that port operations were primarily hampered by inclement weather, equipment breakdowns, and shortages. The report
Durban Container Terminal Concession Halted as Court Rules in Favor of APM Terminals
More than a year after South Africa’s freight industry learned that Transnet awarded a concession tender to International Container Terminal Services Incorporated (ICTSI) to operate Pier 2 at the Durban Container Terminal (DCT), the privatisation process has been halted—at least for now. This development follows a ruling by the Durban High Court in favor of an interdict application lodged by APM Terminals last October. Transnet had awarded ICTSI a 25-year
South Africa’s Groblersbrug Border Faces Delays Amid Biometrics Rollout and Beitbridge Congestion
Cross-border transporters are experiencing up to three-day delays at South Africa’s Groblersbrug border with Botswana, impacted by a new biometric system implemented by the Border Management Authority (BMA) and ongoing congestion issues at Beitbridge. According to Mike Fitzmaurice of the Transit Assistance Bureau, the BMA has introduced a biometric system requiring immigration officers to capture the biometrics of all travelers and truck drivers. While this process takes about 15 minutes
AFC Advances Zambia Lobito Rail Project with Angola and Zambia Concession Agreements
The Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) has achieved a major milestone in the Zambia Lobito Rail project by entering concession agreements with the governments of Angola and Zambia. The formal signing took place alongside the 79th United Nations General Assembly, with support from the U.S. G-7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI) and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. These agreements position the AFC as the lead entity for funding,
Angola Seeks Operators for New Luanda Airport Concession
Angola’s government is inviting bids to manage the new Luanda Antonio Agostinho Neto International Airport under a 25-year concession. The Ministry of Transport has launched a formal tender process, with a deadline for proposals set for February 16, 2025. Interested parties must have operated at least one international airport for a minimum of three years, with prior annual traffic of at least 10 million passengers between 2018 and 2022. If
Malawi’s Rail Rehabilitation Reopens Path for Mozambican Coal Exports
The completion of a major rail rehabilitation project linking Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe, with Balaka in the south has paved the way for the resumption of thermal and coking coal exports from Mozambique. This development is expected to boost coal trade between the two nations, particularly from Mozambique’s coal-rich Tete Province. While international investors have reduced their involvement in local mining operations due to environmental concerns, Mozambique’s coal reserves continue to
Zambia Joins Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency to Boost Regional Trade
In a significant move to enhance regional trade and transportation, Zambia has officially become a full member of the Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency (CCTTFA). The agreement was signed by Minister of Transport and Logistics, Hon. Eng. Counsel Museba Frank Tayali, during the Interstate Council of Ministers Meeting in Kinshasa, DRC. The high-level meeting was chaired by Jean-Pierre Bemba, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport of the DRC.
Zimbabwe Opens Rail Network to Private Players Amid Rising Mineral Demand
Zimbabwe’s state-owned railway operator, National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ), has opened its network to private companies, including a unit of South Africa’s Grindrod, to boost freight volumes that have plummeted after years of underinvestment. Once transporting 12 million tons of cargo annually in the 1990s, NRZ now hauls less than 3 million tons due to a lack of locomotives and poor infrastructure maintenance. This decline was exacerbated by a sharp
Zambia Signs MoU to Boost Trade Through Lobito Corridor
The Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry (MCTI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Quality Institutions (NQI) to implement the Lobito Corridor Trade Facilitation Project, supported by an African Development Bank grant of US$8.1 million. This project aims to enhance both domestic and cross-border trade between Zambia, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The NQI comprises key regulatory bodies, including the Zambia Metrology Agency