Tunduma braces for Tanzania-Zambia ministerial meeting on the border trade

TUNDUMA: PREPARATIONS for the Joint Trade Committee (JTC) Ministerial Meeting between  Tanzania and Zambia have been finalized following the conclusion of a Joint Permanent Secretaries’ meeting held on May 6, 2026, at the One Stop Border Post (OSBP) facility in Tunduma.

The Permanent Secretaries’ session marked the final preparatory stage ahead of the Ministerial Meeting scheduled for May 7, 2026, which is aimed at further strengthening economic, trade, and investment cooperation between the two neighboring countries.

During the meeting, the Permanent Secretaries received, deliberated on, and endorsed recommendations and various agenda items that had been tabled during the Experts’ Meeting held from May 4 to 5, 2026. These agenda items will now be submitted to the Ministers for policy decisions and implementation directives.

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The JTC meeting is expected to review progress made in implementing resolutions from previous sessions, address emerging cross-border trade challenges, and establish joint strategies to enhance bilateral economic and trade cooperation between Tanzania and Zambia.

Zambia remains one of Tanzania’s key trading partners within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), with bilateral trade volumes continuing to grow. This growth is supported by strong diplomatic relations and the use of strategic infrastructure, including the TAZARA Railway, the Port of Dar es Salaam, and the TANZAM Highway linking the two countries.

Additionally, the Tunduma–Nakonde border continues to serve as a critical trade gateway for SADC countries, handling hundreds of cargo trucks daily transporting goods across the region. This positions Tanzania as a vital logistics and trade hub for landlocked countries in Southern Africa.