The customs administrations of Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe want to interconnect their computer systems. At the end of August 2026, they adopted a joint roadmap and action plan for this purpose.
A direct data exchange between customs authorities is planned. The abbreviation C2C is used for this. It stands for "Customs-to-Customs", meaning customs authority to customs authority.
The idea behind it is simple: information about cargo, shipper, consignee, and transport should not only arrive at the border together with the truck. The authority in the next country should receive the data beforehand. This allows it to conduct a risk analysis and prepare inconspicuous shipments for faster clearance.
For transporters, this can mean fewer document checks, shorter waiting times, and more predictable transit times. Especially on routes with multiple border crossings, every delay adds up. A few hours per border quickly becomes a whole day on a long tour.
However, the so-called Smart Corridor is still a goal and not yet a finished system. First, important transport corridors are to be selected. After that, data fields, security rules, legal frameworks, and technical interfaces must be coordinated.
The project is not entirely new. Zambia already exchanges customs data with Malawi and Zimbabwe. These existing connections are to serve as the foundation for a larger regional network.
The comparison with Europe is generally apt. The European import control system ICS2 requires data prior to arrival for goods entering the common security area. This allows customs authorities to identify risks early. However, the African initiative is not yet at the same stage and initially focuses on data exchange between neighboring customs administrations.
Switzerland is also undergoing customs clearance renewal with Passar. Passar 1.0 for transit and export has been implemented. Passar 2.0 for imports is in the pilot phase. Although the DaziT program ends at the end of 2026, the digital transformation at the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security continues.