adminduring the SFAAZ eighth annual conference held in Beitbridge last week, the organisation’s chief executive, Mr Joseph Musariri, said they had since got the nod to speed up the process from Parliament.
“We have since got the go-ahead from Parliament in our bid to promote efficiency and professionalism in the clearing industry.
“The proposed draft legislation has already been sent to our members for consideration and we expect to get the feedback soon.
“Government has challenged us as clearing agents to take it upon ourselves that this proposed legislation becomes a success and this therefore calls for all of us to embrace if we are to operate in line with international standards.
“Our main aim is to have an Act
of Parliament empowering us to
conduct our business as professionals.
“In the meantime we have managed to develop a curriculum for the clearing and forwarding agents in consultation with Chinhoyi University of Technology and is offered at the same institution.
Mr Musariri said his organisation had received several complaints on cheating of clients by opportunists and bogus agents.
He added that there was also have an increase in tax evasion, smuggling and delays at ports of entry, congestion, thefts and all this was impacting negatively on the collection of Government revenue.
“The coming in of the legislation will help regulate our operations in terms of skills, accreditation, integrity and accountability.
“So far we have completed a draft which has been sent to our members and we will also include input
from various stakeholders in the country.”
SFAAZ board chairman Mr Phanuel Gukwe added that the clearing and forwarding profession could regain its lost pride through capacity building programmes that involve training of practitioners in the industry in order to build necessary expertise among the officers.
“The lack of expertise has impacted very negatively on the integrity of our people.
“The association is convinced that corrupt practices in the industry is as damaging to Government as it is on to us as institutions and hence we have to join hands in regaining this lost pride” said Mr Gukwe.
Online Reporter