Sata, Mugabe seal border deal

PRESIDENT Sata and his Zimbabwean counterpart Robert Mugabe have signed the Victoria Falls one-stop border post bilateral agreement to cover the period of the on-going United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) General Assembly.
According to a statement released yesterday by Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) Communications manager Mumbuna Kufekisa, the signing took place over the weekend in Victoria Falls Town, Zimbabwe and a permanent arrangement is being developed.
Mr Kufekisa said the signing of the agreement has paved way for the establishment of a one-stop border post at Victoria Falls Town, one of the border points linking the two countries.
The agreement between Zambia and Zimbabwe is meant to expedite clearance and create a seamless border for the UNWTO general assembly.
The establishment of a one-stop border post at Victoria Falls border post will provide significant improvements to cross border traffic management.
Both commercial traffic and travellers will stop only once to complete border formalities from both countries, reducing waiting clearance times from days to hours.
Mr Kufekisa said the Victoria Falls one-stop border post initiative is a reflection of the continued strengthening of the political and economic ties between Zambia and Zimbabwe.
This becomes the second one-stop border post bilateral agreement between Zambia and Zimbabwe. The first one was launched at Chirundu in 2009.