Transporters operating between Malawi and Tanzania have identified frequent checkpoints as one of the barriers to the smooth and timely transportation of goods. Director of Freight Logistics and Transit Facilitation for the Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency (CCTTFA), Melchior Barantandikiye, said that some of the checkpoints unnecessary and only serve to delay the delivery of goods. “We observed that there are more roadblocks between Dar es Salaam [Tanzania] and Malawi, and some of them are not necessary at every point.
“Transit trucks generally cannot load during the route and if they are checked two or three times, that is sufficient,” Barantandikiye said. He was speaking in Blantyre at the start of a two-day meeting between CCTTFA and officials from Malawi. Barantandikiye added that a survey had been conducted which identified several issues affecting the transportation of goods, including poor road and border post infrastructure.
“The meeting aims to identify solutions to such challenges,” he said. Senior Economist from the Ministry of Transport and Public Works, Daudi Pias, said the engagement was important to improve the transport sector. “By the end of the day we shall compile a matrix of these issues and determine the best solutions.
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Regarding checkpoints, the ministry has introduced one-stop border posts, which is partially addressing such issues. “We are bringing together stakeholders who provide these checkpoints so that they may conduct their services at a single point,” Pias said. The Central Corridor is a major transport and trade route in East and Central Africa, connecting the port of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania to several member states.
In 2023, Malawi joined the group, which consists of seven countries including Tanzania, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Zambia and Uganda. The CCTTFA Secretariat has been holding similar engagements with other member countries.
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