Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
THE Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) has reported an 80 percent uptake in motorists with foreign registration arriving through Beitbridge Border Post, who are embracing the electronic Temporary Import Permits (eTIP) system during the current festive season.
This comes as the revenue collector has opened more kiosks to assist those still struggling or not using the online system at the Beitbridge Border Post.
At the moment, border authorities are processing around 1 300 light vehicles, 1 000 commercial trucks and 250 buses daily, with the bulk being foreign-registered.
Zimra introduced the eTIP system around December 2018, a platform and mobile application that allows visitors to Zimbabwe with foreign-registered vehicles to apply for their temporary import permits online before arriving at the border.
It aims to reduce delays and streamline the border crossing process. Previously, this was a manual process that often caused inconveniences and queues at ports of entry.
Travellers can access the eTIP portal via the Zimra eTIP webpage or a mobile app available on the Google Play Store.
Speaking during a working visit to Beitbridge by Minister of Tourism and Hospitality, Barbara Rwodzi, who was accompanied by Matabeleland South Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Albert Nguluvhe and Beitbridge West legislator, Thusani Ndou, this week, Zimra manager for Region 2, Mr Bekezela Majokoko, said the automation of services was a game changer to border efficiencies.
He said the organisation had digitised most of its services and also introduced the pre-clearance system for goods.
“We are having more manpower on the ground to ensure goods and travellers are processed within the shortest possible time and we’re co-ordinating with other border agencies,” said Mr Majokojoko.
“As Zimra, we have noted an 80 percent increase in the uptake by motorists on the eTIP system, where they need to lodge their applications before arriving at the border.
“This serves time because we only carry out a few compliance checks, cutting on the turnaround time for the travelling public,” he added.
“For those arriving without completing the pre-clearance process, we have opened more service points and kiosks managed by technical officers to assist the travellers with the processes.”
He said travellers needed to embrace the online clearance processes to minimise delays that come with starting the whole process upon arrival at the port of entry.
The Assistant Regional Immigration Officer-in-charge of Beitbridge, which falls under the Southern region (Beitbridge, Chiredzi, Masvingo and Sango), Mrs Canisia Magaya said they were processing around 18 300 travellers daily, with bulky arrivals of 15 000 travellers.
The local head of the Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID), Mr Thomas Mandityira, told the same delegation that the movement of commercial cargo had been made easy following the installation of four weighbridges within the border.
Before the border upgrade, VID relied on two weighbridges, a development that led to commercial traffic slowing down.
“We are coordinating with our counterparts to ensure there is continuous movement of vehicles at the New Limpopo Bridge and so far we have not had any challenges,” Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) manager for Beitbridge, Mr Nesbert Joha, said.
Bongani Ndlovu