Zambia has agreed to reopen its border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but the weekend shutdown has again laid bare the fragility of trade routes and agreements in the SADC region.
The DRC in July announced a 12-month ban on the importation of beverages, including beers, soft drinks and lime. Also banned were Zambian-made tiles and earthenware. Congolese officials said the ban was necessary to support its manufacturers. The ban sparked protests among traders at the border, who make a living running goods between the two countries. Zambia responded by shutting down three border crossings.
“It has been resolved that the government of the Republic of Zambia will open the closed border Posts at Sakania, Mokambo and Kasumbalesa today, 13 August, 2024, in the morning while the DRC will lift all the trade restriction orders on Zambia, effective same date, (today),” Zambia’s Trade Ministry announced after meeting Congolese officials on Monday at Lubumbashi, near the border.
The row has once again thrown a spotlight on how easily supply chains can be disrupted, at a time when the region is talking up free trade.
One of the borders affected, Kasumbalesa, is SADC’s second busiest border after Beitbridge. Kasumbalesa sits at a convergence point of the region’s most important trade corridors; the North-South Corridors, Dar es Salaam Development Corridor, Walvis Bay-Ndola-Lubumbashi Corridor, Beira Development Corridor and Lobito Development Corridor. Kasumbalesa handles freight such as copper, minerals and manufactured goods from Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
The DRC’s Trade Minister, Julien Paluku, last month defended the ban on Zambian goods, saying Congo was looking to support local businesses and fight import fraud at its borders. Trade between DRC and Zambia is governed by a 2015 pact, which allows each country to “safeguard measures in respect of a product on conditions that it causes or threatens to cause serious injury to the domestic industry producing like or directly competitive products”.
The two countries say that trade deal is now being renegotiated, as part of efforts to end frequent disputes.
“This disruption poses a severe threat to jobs and livelihoods in the Zambian manufacturing sector, with ripple effects felt throughout the economy. The DRC has long been a vital trading partner for Zambia,” says the Zimbabwe Association of Manufacturers.
Kasumbalesa is notorious for delays, with queues often stretching back 60km.
