In July 2023, Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga, South Africa’s Minister of Transport, made a joint visit with her Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) counterpart, Minister Marc Ekila Likombo, to the Kasumbalesa border post. The visit was aimed at putting the Memorandum of Understanding signed by both countries’ Ministers of Transport in July 2022 into practice.
The Importance of Kasumbalesa Border Post
The Kasumbalesa border post is a crucial entry point into the DRC from Zambia. It is an essential transit point for freight trucks carrying goods from South Africa and other regional countries.
The Ministers’ Visit
Ministers Chikunga and Likombo’s visit to Kasumbalesa border post was a significant step towards addressing the challenges faced by freight operators in the region. During the visit, the Ministers interacted with relevant stakeholders from the road freight industry and authorities from both countries. They gained insights into the hurdles faced by freight operators and the DRC government’s proposed solutions to address these challenges.
The Joint Communique
After the visit, the Ministers of Transport from South Africa and the DRC signed a joint communique outlining the steps to be taken to tackle the issues. The communique acknowledged that congestion and delays at the Kasumbalesa border were due to infrastructure, equipment, and procedural issues. Both parties committed to continued engagement to deliver tangible outcomes in their cooperation.
Proposed Solutions
The officials agreed to support the automation of the Kasumbalesa port of entry and extending border operations to 24 hours a day. They also proposed the establishment of a one-stop border post and the use of alternative border posts to reduce congestion at Kasumbalesa. Additionally, they agreed to support the use of rail as an alternative to alleviate congestion on the Kasumbalesa road network and the construction of a dry port.
The Importance of Regional Collaboration
The joint ministerial visit demonstrated the strong relationship between South Africa and the DRC and highlighted the importance of regional collaboration in tackling common challenges. Resolving issues at the Kasumbalesa port of entry requires the participation of the Zambian government. As a result, Minister Chikunga will engage with her Zambian counterpart to discuss their involvement in finding sustainable solutions to the congestion problem.
