Horohoro border trade surges on streamlined clearance

HOROHORO: TRADE through the Horohoro One Stop Border Post (OSBP) on the Tanzania-Kenya border has recorded remarkable growth over the past three years, reflecting the success of regional trade integration and simplified border procedures under the East African Community (EAC).

The value of exports handled through the Horohoro/ Lunga Lunga border increased by about 80 per cent, from 306.4bn/- in the 2022/23 financial year to 548bn/- in 2024/25, while imports grew from 134.7bn/- to 175.9bn/- over the same period.

The impressive performance was highlighted on Tuesday during a visit by East African Community Deputy Secretary General, Ms Annette Semuwamba, who led a delegation from the EAC Secretariat to inspect the implementation of the Simplified Trade Regime (STR) at the Horohoro OSBP in Mkinga District, Tanga Region.

Speaking during the visit, Head of the Horohoro One Stop Border Post, Mr Shadrack Kavuta, said the facility has transformed cross-border trade by reducing cargo clearance time, lowering transport costs and improving coordination between Tanzanian and Kenyan border agencies.

“The One Stop Border Post has significantly improved trade facilitation by enabling travelers, cargo and vehicles to be cleared at a single point instead of undergoing separate procedures on both sides of the border,” Mr Mbonea said.

He said Horohoro is one of Tanzania’s seven One Stop Border Posts established to facilitate the movement of people and goods within the EAC by bringing together border agencies from both countries under one roof.

The border post hosts 19 government institutions led by the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), including Immigration, the Police Force, Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS), Tanzania Shipping Agencies Corporation (TASAC), Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority (TMDA), Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA), Tanzania Plant Health and Pesticides Authority (TPHPA), Fisheries, Livestock, Fire and Rescue Force, Government Chemist Laboratory Authority (GCLA), Tanzania Forest Services (TFS), the Mining Commission and the Tanzania People’s Defence Force (TPDF), among others.

Besides revenue collection, the agencies jointly facilitate trade, enforce customs regulations, combat smuggling, safeguard public health by preventing the entry of hazardous goods and compile cross-border trade statistics.

Mr Mbonea said the border post began piloting the One Stop Border Post system in September 2021 and has since recorded significant operational improvements.

Initially, the integrated system operated for only 12 hours a day, after which travellers and transporters had to complete separate clearance procedures at each country’s border offices.

However, following bilateral agreements between Tanzania and Kenya, the two countries introduced 24-hour operations, enabling travellers and transporters to access all border services at a single point around the clock.

“The 24-hour integrated operations have greatly improved efficiency, reduced delays and enhanced the movement of goods and passengers across the border,” he said.

Mr Mbonea added that the Horohoro OSBP has strengthened support for small-scale cross-border traders through the EAC’s Simplified Trade Regime, which allows traders dealing in consignments valued at up to 2,000 US dollars to benefit from simplified customs procedures.

He said the border post has established a dedicated help desk for small traders, simplified tax assessment through the F88 declaration system and recognises Simplified Certificates of Origin issued by Kenyan authorities.

“We have also prepared lists of commonly traded goods to help traders easily determine applicable taxes and comply with customs requirements,” he added.

The border has also fully embraced the Single Customs Territory (SCT) arrangement under the EAC, allowing customs declarations and inspections for cargo originating from or transiting through Kenya to be completed before goods arrive at the Tanzanian border.

According to Mr Mbonea, the arrangement has substantially reduced cargo clearance time, lowered business costs and eliminated unnecessary trade barriers within the regional bloc. He added that close cooperation between Horohoro OSBP and Kenya’s Lunga Lunga border post has strengthened implementation of the programme through regular joint meetings, coordinated anti-smuggling patrols and continuous public awareness campaigns on customs procedures.

Speaking after touring the facility, Ms Semuwamba commended Tanzania and Kenya for the progress made in implementing the Simplified Trade Regime, saying the EAC remains committed to working with partner states to make regional trade easier and more affordable, particularly for smallscale entrepreneurs.

She said the Secretariat was encouraged by the steady increase in trade volumes among EAC partner states and was particularly impressed that most products crossing the border are produced within the region.