South Africa rejects blame for Beitbridge delays

South Africa's Border Management Authority stated its border operations remain fully functional and that congestion at Beitbridge stems from constraints on the Zimbabwean side. The BMA and South African Revenue Service moved to reassure freight operators about processing capacity, insisting the long queues are not due to South African delays, and expressed readiness to assist Zimbabwean authorities, urging cooperation to resolve the congestion. Zimbabwean authorities cited limited parking space and abnormal load vehicles occupying parking bays as factors, but the BMA counters that its side is clear. The cross-border finger-pointing deepens as truck gridlock persists at the key regional trade corridor, causing significant delays for freight operators. The dispute exposes coordination failures between the two neighbours at a crossing that handles the bulk of regional freight movement, threatening supply chains and economic activity, and deepening bilateral tensions.