MBABANE – Eswatini has taken another decisive step towards transforming its trade landscape and cementing its position as a regional leader in cross-border facilitation.
Following a transformative two-week Coordinated Border Management (CBM) workshop facilitated by the World Customs Organisation (WCO), the country has successfully united all border agencies under one national vision – to achieve seamless, 24-hour ‘No-Stop’ borders.
The workshop, which concluded last Friday, brought together every government entity involved in border operations – from the Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS) and the Ministry of Agriculture, to the Royal Eswatini Police Service, national intelligence bodies and National Agricultural Marketing Board (NAMBoard) – all working collaboratively under the National Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFC).
For the first time, the long-envisioned concept of one border stop transitioned from aspiration to implementation. The workshop fostered unprecedented inter-agency cooperation, signalling a profound cultural shift in the nation’s approach to trade efficiency.
“This level of all-inclusive commitment marks a pivotal moment for Eswatini’s trade landscape,” said a source within the NTFC leadership. “To see intelligence officers, police and agricultural inspectors sitting side-by-side with customs officials, all dedicated to designing a streamlined process, is a game-changer. It emboldens our belief that a seamless border is within reach.”
ERS Commissioner General Brightwell Nkambule set an ambitious tone, urging stakeholders to aim beyond traditional efficiency goals.
“Our ultimate goal must be a ‘no-stop border,’” he declared. “This is where trusted, compliant traders, who are part of the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme, experience a border crossing without the need to stop. This is the zenith of trade facilitation – and it is achievable if we sustain this collaborative spirit and businesses take advantage of the AEO facility.”
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Plans to extend Lavumisa’s operating hours
MBABANE – Following discussions during the sessions, serious consultations have begun to extend operating hours at the Lavumisa Border Gate.
An initial target of midnight operations has been proposed, with a clear and agreed roadmap toward full 24-hour functionality – a move expected to yield immediate benefits for sectors heavily reliant on just-in-time logistics, such as agriculture and transport.
“This is a major achievement for our traders in the agriculture and transport sectors, for whom time is perishable and delays are costly,” said an NTFC.
“Having a seat at the table where these critical decisions are being made ensures that the voice of business leads to outcomes that will boost our nation’s competitiveness.”
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