Is infrastructure upgrading an antidote for smuggling? Evidence from Beitbridge Border Post, Zimbabwe

Abstract

In recent years, Southern Africa has witnessed an increase in the volume of commercial and private cross-border traffic. This has put pressure on inland ports of entry as well as sea ports. The Beitbridge Border Post handles the largest volume of traffic in Southern Africa yet there has been no significant infrastructure development in the past decade. Incidences of smuggling and other illegal activities have increased. The existing infrastructure fails to contain the volume of traffic, enabling travellers to evade duty payment. This paper contends that improvements in infrastructure would help to curb rampant smuggling and offers suggestions to achieve this.