US Company Strikes Deal to Deploy Multi-million-dollar Border Technology Across Zambia’s Busiest Trade Corridors

Solomon Ekanem

25 August 2026 08:57 AM

A US technology company has secured a contract to equip Zambia’s Livingstone border post with advanced X-ray cargo scanning technology as the country moves to modernise its customs and border operations.

US-based company Astrophysics Inc. has signed a contract to supply advanced X-ray cargo scanners to Zambia’s busy Livingstone border post.

The new technology will help Zambian customs officers inspect trucks and cargo quickly and detect contraband more effectively.

The scanners are expected to reduce wait times at the border, easing bottlenecks and facilitating legitimate trade.

This project builds on Astrophysics’ previous cooperation with Zambia, having supplied similar systems to the Nakonde border post.

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According to the U.S. Embassy in Zambia, US-based security technology company Astrophysics Inc. and the Zambia Revenue Authority have signed a contract to equip the Livingstone border post with advanced border security technology.

The Livingstone border post is one of Southern Africa’s busiest crossings, making the new scanning system significant for both trade facilitation and border security.

The equipment will allow ZRA officers to inspect trucks and cargo more efficiently while improving their ability to detect contraband, smuggled goods and dangerous materials.

The scanners are also expected to reduce waiting times for trucks and cargo, potentially helping to ease bottlenecks at the border and facilitate the movement of legitimate goods across the region.

Technology aimed at speeding up regional trade

The project expands existing cooperation between Astrophysics and the ZRA. The company previously supplied similar technology to Zambia’s Nakonde border post, which was commissioned by President Hakainde Hichilema in June 2026 and is now operational.

Astrophysics Vice President of Human Resources and Organizational Development Vincent Zayek and ZRA Commissioner General Dingani Banda signed the Livingstone contract during a ceremony at the U.S. Embassy in Lusaka.

U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Mich Coker described the project as an example of how technology can support legitimate trade while strengthening border security.

The US Embassy said the project aligns with Zambia’s priorities of strengthening domestic revenue collection, improving the ease of doing business and positioning the country as a secure hub for regional trade.

The agreement also highlights the growing role of US companies in Zambia’s trade and security infrastructure, with Washington framing the partnership around commercial cooperation, technology and long-term investment rather than traditional aid.

Astrophysics’ expansion into another major Zambian border crossing comes as African countries increasingly invest in automated inspection and customs technologies to improve trade efficiency and strengthen control over cross-border commerce.