Reaching remote communities in Southern Africa remains a major hurdle in logistics. While urban centers like Johannesburg, Harare, and Lusaka enjoy relatively developed infrastructure, rural areas often lack the road quality and connectivity required for efficient delivery. Poor maintenance of gravel roads, unpredictable weather patterns, and insufficient warehousing infrastructure further strain last-mile delivery systems.
Agricultural producers, particularly in Zimbabwe and Malawi, frequently struggle to get their goods to market. This inefficiency drives up costs and discourages investment. Innovative logistics startups like Zimbabwe’s Swift and South Africa’s Sendr are experimenting with decentralized warehousing, solar-powered delivery lockers, and even drone delivery pilots.
NGOs and governments are also getting involved. The African Union’s Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) aims to modernize transport corridors and improve cross-border logistics. However, funding and political will remain barriers. Without a reliable last-mile strategy, economic inclusion and rural development will continue to suffer.
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Insights May 13, 2025
Cross-Border Trucking
truck freight dominates Southern Africa’s logistics, carrying up to 80% of regional goods traffic. Popular corridors include Durban–Lusaka, Beira–Harare, and Walvis Bay–Gaborone. But truckers face serious challenges: roadblocks, bribery, border delays, and poor infrastructure. For instance, Beitbridge Border Post, between South Africa and Zimbabwe, is infamous for multi-day waits. However, modernization efforts through the Zimborders […]