admin
Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
The automation of services and separation of traffic at the transformed Beitbridge border post has become a game changer and enhanced efficiency at the country’s busiest port of entry.
Finance and Economic Development Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube said this while visiting the port of entry yesterday revealing that the government was also working on a raft of measures to boost its revenue collection capacity at the border.
He said under the current set up, the border agencies were now able to clear 55 percent of commercial cargo arriving at Beitbridge under three hours compared to more than 24 hours in the last decade.
The minister visited the port of entry to assess operations and the implementation of the “ease of doing business” inclined policies.
“I am impressed with the quality of the facilities here. It is world class and I have noticed that the morale of most staff here has been boosted by the quality of the facilities,” said Prof Ncube.
“There is also better team work among the 22 government agencies and we will push hard as Government, to support them so that they deliver on their mandate.
“There is a great improvement efficiency in the clearing of commercial trucks and some which had abandoned the Zimbabwean route are back again.”
Prof Ncube said the Government would expedite the implementation of the single window facility to ensure compliance and enforcement processes were streamlined to reduce the time exporters/importers were spending at the border.
Prof Ncube said more resources would be deployed to capacitate the security cluster to repeal criminal activities on the border flanks.
The Government was losing a lot of potential import/export revenue to smuggling activities along the border.
“We are procuring a lot of hit-tech equipment to minimise the human interface that at times promotes corruption,” said Prof Ncube.
“This border post has become a model for trade facilitation in Sadc and we hope to mirror this at the other ports of entry countrywide.
“One thing this border has resolved is the challenge of touts who have been shut out by the automation and biometric systems.”
The Government was working on procuring more electronic transit cargo seals to create the geo-fencing of commercial trucks and minimise transit fraud.
Prof Ncube said efforts were being made to offload the State warehouses at the border which were filling up with contraband.
Under normal circumstances, these were offloaded within three months, but the minister said he would expedite the procedures to make sure these were offloaded as soon as possible.
“We are happy with the set up here which is also ideal for the implementation of the one stop border post concept with South Africa, a setup which will further improve trade facilitation and efficiencies,” said the Minister.
Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) commissioner for customs and excise, Mr Batsirai Chadzingwa said the separation of traffic was a welcome development which has enable them to offer customised services to their clients.
There are now three terminals processing freight, buses and light vehicles and pedestrians.
Previously these would be cleared under one building.
“We are happy with the new state of affairs where most of the services have been automated and this has seen us improve our way of doing things,” he said.
“At the moment the volume of traffic cargo is increasing daily as more transporters begin to realise the premium of using this port of entry.
“The introduction of the preclearance system for all imports and exports has helped reduce the turnaround time people are spending at the border”.
Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara) operations manager for Beitbridge Mr Nesbert Joha said they were now clearing around 900 commercial trucks at the border an increase for the 400 in the first few months last year.
“We are yet to close the construction period and we are now working on signage which will be completed by June 30,” said Zimborders General manager Mr Nqobile Ncube.
“It is pleasing to note that the Minister (Prof Ncube) is working on making sure the human elements and the electronic component are working hand in glove.
“So far, we have done well improving services but our aim is to improve that by the second quarter of 2024, we clear 80 percent of trucks arriving here within three hours”.
The acting head of immigration, Mrs Canisia Magaya said the current modernisation of the border had resulted in a major transformation of traffic and service delivery.
She said they were handling an average of 9 000 travellers daily and that the number peaked two or three times during major holidays.
Online Reporter