In a major move to strengthen regional economic integration, the Dedza/Calomue border post, which connects Malawi and Mozambique, has been the focus of a detailed study visit by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat.
The initiative is part of a broader commitment made during the 13th Ministerial Task Force (MTF) meeting on Regional Economic Integration in July 2013 in Maputo, Mozambique, where Ministers pledged to improve border efficiency and trade facilitation at key entry points.
Led by Senior Programme Officer for Customs, Alcides Monteiro, the SADC team conducted the assessment from November 18 to 21, 2025. The study examined several factors, including the operating hours of the border, implementation of the Co-ordinated Border Management (CBM) concept, progress on the One Stop Border Post (OSBP) initiative, transit procedure efficiency, goods clearance times, and Information and Communication Technology connectivity.
The Dedza/Calomue OSBP is a key junction along the Nacala Corridor, facilitating trade not only for Malawi and Mozambique but also for countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Operating under a juxtaposed model, the OSBP has significantly streamlined the movement of goods across borders.
The post was officially inaugurated on June6, 2025 by Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera and Mozambique President Daniel Francisco Chapo, highlighting both countries’ commitment to implementing the MTF’s regional integration objectives.
The assessment found that the border post now operates 15 hours a day, seven days a week, from 06:00 CAT to 21:00 CAT, speeding up goods clearance and easing congestion. The border currently handles an average of 80 trucks per day. These improvements align with the SADC Protocol on Trade and the World Trade Organisation’s Trade Facilitation Agreement, promoting efficient trade practices across the region.
The SADC team also noted a strategic reduction in the number of border agencies present, with Customs, Immigration, the Bureau of Standards, and Sanitary and Phytosanitary services working in closer coordination to improve overall efficiency.
The Dedza/Calomue OSBP is the seventh OSBP in the SADC region, providing a benchmark for future projects and a model for best practices in trade facilitation.
–ChannelAfrica/SADC–
