adminThupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
THE Parliamentary thematic committee on peace and security has urged the Government to urgently attend to infrastructure shortages and beef up staff at Beitbridge Border Post so as to expedite processes culminating in the implementation of the one stop border post concept between Zimbabwe and South Africa.
The committee made the call after getting oral evidence from border management officials including those from the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra), immigration and police during a familiarisation tour of the border on Monday.
Committee chairperson Senator Damian Diamond Mumvuri said the shortage of infrastructure at the port of entry was negatively affecting the implementation of the one stop border post concept. He added that perennial staff shortages at the border were also affecting the smooth flow of both human traffic and cargo.
“We have come here a as team to assess the operations at the border post following numerous reports of delays in both the movement of people and cargo. From what we have seen so far it is prudent for Government to upgrade the border post as a matter of urgency and accord it a befitting status as the busiest inland port of entry in Sadc. We appreciate efforts being made by customs, immigration and security in ensuring a smooth flow of operations but these need to be capacitated if we are to make headway as a country.”
Sen Mumvuri said the situation at the border post was increasing opportunities for corruption and unnecessary delays of cargo movement and tourist arrivals. He said under the new order travellers will be cleared once for passage into either country.
At the moment people travelling to South Africa queue for clearance on the Zimbabwean border and go through the same processes to enter South Africa and vice-versa. The chairperson added that Zimbabwe risks losing a lot of revenue as many people had started avoiding the port of entry because of delays and congestion.
“We understand that at the moment the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority is collecting around $2 million at Beitbridge Border Post per day. We therefore call on Central Government to consider releasing part of the money towards the upgrading of infrastructure in this area,” he said.
He said poor service at the border had resulted in an increase in cases of smuggling between Zimbabwe and South Africa’s boundary line. Sen Mumvuri added that the Government should mobilise funds of erecting a parameter fence.
“Such facilities will help our security teams during patrols along the border line and reduce incidents of smuggling. Currently we have the Limpopo River as the natural barrier. We understand that intrusive leakages are rampant because the river bed is dry and smugglers are doing as they please” said Sen Mumvuri.
It is understood that 95 percent of cargo transported in the region is by road transport with a delay of three days at the border increasing transport costs by about $400 per truck per day which is passed on to the importer. The congestion and delays reportedly cost $200 million in lost production, tourism traffic and revenue per year.
Stakeholders told committee members composed mainly of Senators that they were attending to an average of 14 000 travellers and 600 in bound haulage trucks per day. They also attributed the problems at the border post to staffing challenges and infrastructure which had dilapidated due to wear and tear.
The committee also heard that touts and conmen and illegal immigrants were finding their way into the border post trough the porous perimeter fence. Zimra officials also attributed an increase in cases of smuggling of banned or controlled items due to the tightening of screws on imports by Government in the last three years.
derick.khumalo