Overview
This border post is busy with a steady volume of traffic, it operates as a “one stop border post”. It is a main crossing for the country with Zimbabwe. The road that guarantees access is made of good tarmac from Lusaka on the T2 highway. Trucks are challenged on this route as they cross the Zambezi escarpment which is a steep grade and the cause of many accidents despite improvements to the highway. The same situation applies on the Zimbabwe side where the Zambezi escarpment is extended. Currently, this is Zambia’s second busiest border crossing point after Kasumbalesa border point (Zambia/DRC). However, there is high possibility of reduction in traffic once the Kazungula bridge is commissioned as most north and south bound truckers would prefer to use Kazungula border crossing due to its proximity to the Republic of South Africa where most cargo is coming from.
Waiting time is 24 to 48 hours depending on documentation completeness. Pre-clearance and registration as well as forwarders with e-payment capability are essential to facilitating cargo movement.
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Border Crossing Location and Contact |
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Name of Border Crossing |
Zambia and Zimbabwe: Chirundu Border Post |
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Province or District |
Southern Province |
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Nearest Town or City with Distance from Border Crossing |
Kafue (79 km) |
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Latitude |
-16.03503 |
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Longitude |
28.84746 |
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Managing Authority / Agency |
Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) |
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Contact Person |
Mr Chiwama Malama, Associate Commissioner and Station Manager, Mobile: +260 976 044893 |
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Travel Times |
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Nearest International Airport |
Lusaka – Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (135 km) Truck Travel Time: 6 hrs Car Travel time: 2.5 hrs |
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Nearest Port |
Durban, South Africa (2,017 km) |
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Nearest location with functioning wholesale markets, or with significant manufacturing or production capacity |
Lusaka (135 km) Truck Travel Time: 6 hrs Car Travel time: 2.5 hrs |
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Other Information |
Roads are made of good tarmac on the T2 to Lusaka. The border post has a steady volume of traffic with minimum wait when all documentation is correct. |
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Hours of Operation |
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Every day regardless of holidays or season |
06:00 – 22:00 |
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Daily Capacity
This border post has a steady volume of traffic. There is very little parking space available for trucks except along the roadside outside the gates. Approximately 440 trucks per day cross both ways through the post. The maximum capacity is about 500 trucks per day. About a 24 hour wait when all documentation is correct can be expected.
Customs Clearance
Delays occur when documentation is incomplete.
Documentation requirements for food (cereals):
- Waybill
- Export permit (dependent on commodity)
- Certificate of Origin (COMESA/SADC)
- Fumigation certificate
- Export schedule (in case of Maize)
- Invoice
- Phytosanitary certificate
Electronic pre-clearance possible and recommended through forwarding agent. Bond is held by the agent for fees. ZRA is the Regulatory Authority. Inspection is required for import and export by Ministry of Agriculture and ZRA. Fee of USD 100 per foreign registered truck and 196ZMW for Zambian trucks. All trucks are subject to inspection upon entering or leaving the country.
For more information on customs in Zambia, please see the following link: 1.3 Zambia Customs Information.
Other Relevant Information
Photos are not permitted within the gates of this border post. Food is inspected by the Ministry of Agriculture.
Chirundu Border Post, PO Box 360277 Chirundu, Tel: +260 211383700, email: advice@zra.org.zm.
For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Zambia Government Contact List.
