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Admore Mbonda in Chirundu
THERE is urgent need to upgrade infrastructure at Chirundu One-Stop Border Post to curtail operational inefficiencies hampering the smooth flow of human, vehicular and cargo traffick, legislators heard.
The border post is set to undergo a major facelift estimated to gobble US$66.8 million following the signing of a public-private partnership between the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development and the Chirundu Border Consortium, a joint venture of local firms.
Cabinet recently consented to the envisaged upgrade and modernisation of the border between Zimbabwe and its northern neighbor, Zambia, to usher in immense economic benefits.
Addressing journalists after a tour of Chirundu One-Stop Border Post last week by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Industry and Commerce, Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) regional manager Ms Angeline Mashiri attributed delays being experienced by truckers at the border post to infrastructure deficiencies.
She said there is a need to spruce the point of entry and exit situated in the midst of a national park.
“Modernisation has become very important. The flow of traffic, human and cargo, is affected by the structure of the border post.
“Since the two border posts on the Zimbabwean and Zambian sides were built, we have not yet implemented the one-stop-border concept… there is criss-crossing of traffic within the control zone.”
She said if the border post is upgraded, the authority will then be able to install state-of-the-art surveillance scanners and use drones to curb smuggling.
Acting Immigration regional manager Mr Morgan Moyo concurred, saying harmonising laws were imperative in order to expedite clearing processes and procedures between the neighbouring countries.
“We need legislation that harmonises our processes, not only for Zimbabwe but Zambia as well. That will enable us to allow our one-stop-border post to be fully-fledged, and then we can talk of time reduction in terms of times travellers and truckers spend at the border,” Mr Moyo said.
“At the moment, we have put all our traditional processes in one room, but we have not managed to reduce the time as we would want…in terms of the one-stop-border process, we are lagging behind.
“We urge you as legislators to ensure that our laws are harmonised, that even working hours are harmonised.”
Mr Ngonidzashe Mudekunye, chairperson of the lndustry and Commerce Parliamentary Portfolio, said his committee was on a fact-finding mission on how it can advise agencies to improve ease of doing business.
“Our mandate is in line with the President’s mantra of ‘Zimbabwe is open for business’. We are here to try and see how efficiencies can be improved at the border whilst revenue is being collected. Whilst laws and regulations are being complied with, how can we improve doing business here?”
“At Chirundu, there are issues that need to be addressed. You have seen queues, lots and lots of trucks. We have been told there are procedures that need to be synchronised between Zambia and Zimbabwe,” said Mr Mudekunye.
Transport operators have urged the Government to streamline cumbersome customs clearance processes, describing the current regulations as counterproductive.
Online Reporter