adminWalter Nyamukondiwa
Mashonaland West Bureau
The suspension of the use of Kariba Border Post for cross border bus operators and clearing of imported vehicles through Zambia has been received with mixed feelings amid fears the development would stifle tourism and cause congestion at Chirundu One-Stop-Border Post.
Zimra has redirected traffic to Chirundu Border Post where in-transit drivers and cross border say there are limited accommodation facilities for them to use as they wait for clearance procedures.
Tour operators in Kariba have bemoaned the development saying transit traffic was contributing to relatively high bed occupancy and business in the resort town.
Kariba Tourism and Business Indaba coordinator Mr Cephas Shonhiwa said the high volume of traffic at the border post was causing congestion and affecting the flow of traffic.
“There is a high number of vehicles at the border post which was now affecting the movement of tourists who visit the dam as part of their packages,” said Mr Shonhiwa.
“The move will help decongest the border post, but our hotels, lodges and shops were getting business because of the movement of people as they waited to finalise procedures.”
An in-transit vehicle driver said Kariba was their port of choice owing to availability of accommodation facilities and relatively less congestion compared to Chirundu One Stop Border Post.
“We have always favoured Kariba because we are used to the border and the people operating there. We also find it easy to get accommodation and better things to see there than in Chirundu,” said a man who uses the border post.
A visit at the border post shows large volumes of vehicles awaiting clearance on both sides of the road, affecting the flow of traffic on the busy road to the Kariba Dam.
Some of the drivers in the queue said the delays were being caused by the late processing of exemption rebates for the importation of Civil Servants’ vehicles.
“The major cause of delays is that people start the process of importing their vehicles, but midway through the process they have to wait for the exemption rebates which take anything between a week and a month,” said another driver who was waiting for his vehicle’s rebate.
Zimra suspended the use of Kariba Border Post with effect from this Thursday.
In a notice, Zimra Commissioner of Customs and Excise Batsirai Chadzingwa said the suspension would take effect on Thursday, July 20, 2023 until further notice.
The suspension will affect cross border travellers, importers of vehicles from the Far East through Zambia and such traffic will be redirected to Chirundu One-Stop-Border Post.
Zimra has put in place contingency measures in consultation with the Zambia Revenue Authority to manage the adjustments at the port of entry.
Ongoing works to reshape the Kariba Dam plunge pool and floodgates are progressing well.
Online Reporter