RECENT unrest in neighbouring Mozambique impacted port operations and created challenges across regional trade corridors. For landlocked countries such as Zimbabwe, which rely on access points such as Beira and Maputo, the ripple effects are a reminder of how vital resilient and adaptive logistics networks are to economic security and continuity. Zimbabwe Independent (ZI) spoke to DHL Global Forwarding Zimbabwe country manager Tinevimbo Makumbe (TM). Below are excerpts of the interview:
ZI: How do port disruptions hurt economies?
TM: The ripple effects of interrupted port activity, including cargo delays, vessel congestion, and staffing challenges, go far beyond the docks. They jeopardise the delivery of food, healthcare supplies, and consumer goods. For Zimbabwe, where imports flow primarily through Beira and Maputo, these delays are more than inconvenient — they’re economically and socially damaging.
E-commerce, a growing force in the region’s economy, also suffers. Unreliable logistics can push consumers back toward traditional retail channels, limiting market reach for online businesses and reducing trust in digital transactions.
ZI: What are you doing around innovative logistics: Building resilience from the ground up?
TM: To navigate these challenges, Zimbabwean businesses and policymakers must rethink logistics. That means moving beyond conventional routes and embracing tech-enabled, diversified strategies.
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Multimodal transport, via road, rail, air, and sea, offers more flexibility and can reduce end-to-end costs. For example, revitalising rail infrastructure would ease pressure on road networks and lower freight spend. Digital tools such as real-time tracking, warehouse automation, and predictive analytics improve supply chain visibility and responsiveness. These innovations help businesses make better inventory and routing decisions, reduce delays and protect against risks such as theft or spoilage.
ZI: Are you creating more routes with less risk?
TM: Relying on a single trade corridor creates avoidable supply chain risks. Routes through Durban (South Africa) and Walvis Bay (Namibia) may involve higher initial costs but offer critical resilience. Proactively rerouting cargo minimises the risks of perishables expiring in transit, and helps avoid demurrage fees and penalties associated with port congestion. In the long term, diversified access points mean less disruption, more stable trade flows, and fewer supply chain shocks.
ZI: What are you doing to strengthen last-mile delivery?
TM: The last mile is often the weakest link in African supply chains yet it is crucial, especially for e-commerce. In Zimbabwe, many consumers are hesitant to rely on digital platforms due to inconsistent delivery and limited rural coverage.
Improving last-mile logistics through local courier networks, decentralised warehousing, and community-based transport cooperatives can change this. A stronger delivery network builds consumer confidence, supports small businesses, and bridges the urban-rural divide by ensuring access to essential goods in underserved areas.
This shift does not just improve logistics, it also promotes economic inclusion and job creation, especially for youth and informal workers.
ZI: In relation to AfCFTA and regional integration?
TM: Zimbabwe’s logistics transformation must align with the broader goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Simplified customs procedures, reduced tariffs, and harmonised trade regulations will lower barrier, while cross-border multimodal transport systems can reduce costs and improve access to regional markets. Additionally, digital customs platforms and smarter border technologies can reduce time delays and increase transparency.
These advances will strengthen Africa’s position as a unified economic bloc, more capable of responding to regional disruptions and capitalising on emerging growth opportunities.
ZI: What is the future for Zimbabwe, from vulnerability to opportunity?
TM: Zimbabwe’s logistics future depends on bold, forward-thinking investment. By embracing multimodal transport, improving last-mile delivery, leveraging digital tools, and participating actively in regional integration, the country can turn current vulnerabilities into long-term trade opportunities.
Resilient, smart logistics are no longer just a reaction to disruption, they are the foundation of sustainable growth, inclusive development, and a stronger Southern African economy.