Zambezi River Basin

Movement of People, Goods and Services Various arrangements have been put in place to improve the movement of people in the basin and in the southern African region as a whole. In 2005, the leaders of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Member States adopted the Protocol on the Facilitation of Movement of Persons in the SADC aimed at developing policies that allow movement of people across borders in the SADC region. The new protocol has already been signed by half of the 15 member states and is still subject to ratification by two-thirds of the member states before it enters into force. It is intended to facilitate visa-free entry, residence and establishment by individuals or families in territories of member states (Madakufamba 2005). In order to facilitate the easy movement of people, goods and services between the countries, one-stop border post arrangements are being established. This type of border crossing was piloted at the Chirundu border post between Zambia and Zimbabwe in 2009 (SARDC 2009a). Infrastructure such as bridges are being developed and expanded. This includes the construction of Kazungula Bridge between Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe and the Katima Mulilo Bridge across the Zambezi between Namibia and Zambia which opened in 2005 (SADC and ZRA 2007).

© Candice Bate, WWF © Candice Bate, WWF

Chirundu Bridge over the Zambezi River between Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Trucks waiting to cross the Chirundu bridge between Zambia and Zimbabwe.

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