Govt urged to improve Forbes risk assessment

Rumbidzayi Zinyuke Eastern Edition
The Shipping and Forwarding Agents Association of Zimbabwe has urged Government to improve its risk assessment parameters at Forbes Border Post and accommodate more inland final clearing systems that help ease pressure at the port of entry. In an interview with The Herald Eastern Edition, SFAAZ chief executive officer, Mr Joseph Musariri, said this would help improve the rate at which cargo was cleared at the post.

“All the cargo clearing systems must be geared more towards trade facilitation rather than revenue collection,” he said.

Mr Musariri said focusing on trade facilitation would naturally bring more business to the port of entry.

While movement of cargo at the border post increased in the past years, Mr Musariri said there had been challenges with lack of space for both incoming and outgoing cargo.

“Beira is getting busier for obvious reasons, which include the shorter distance and improved efficiencies,” he said.

“But there is also a problem with the Asycuda System Downtime, which has become more frequent and slows down clearance of goods.”

Mr Musariri said the demolition of offices at Forbes Border Post to pave way for road construction in June had impacted on revenue collection efforts negatively and appealed to Government to consider urgently building offices for renting out to clearing agents who were displaced.

“Some clearing agents have had to scrounge around for internet connectivity in order to register declarations and keep cargo moving,” he said.

“The effect of the relocation was terrible.

“Building a block for rental by the clearing agents could have been a wise idea.

“There is such an arrangement at Plumtree Border Post and its working well. If Government is to maximise on revenue collection, they should pay attention to the role of the clearing agents.”

SFAAZ represents organisations that deal directly with Zimra in the processing of commercial imports and exports across the borders of Zimbabwe.

Mr Musariri reiterated the importance of reviving the country’s manufacturing sector to improve the volumes that pass through Forbes in the long run.

“As long as our manufacturing sector continues to be depressed, I do not see an improvement in the volumes moving,” he said.