Zim retains regional clearing agents presidency

Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
Zimbabwe has retained the presidency for Federation of Clearing and Forwarding Associations of Southern Africa (FCFASA) following an annual general meeting which was held in Victoria Falls last week. Joseph Musariri who is the chief executive officer for the Shipping and Forwarding Agents Association Of Zimbabwe (SFAAZ) was elected unopposed for a third term while Zambia’s Emmanuel Mutale was elected vice president.

Delegates from Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, Mozambique and Mauritius unanimously endorsed the re-appointment of Musariri.
A country provides one individual from a national association to contest in the FCFASA elections. The committee’s tenure runs for two years.

In an interview recently Musariri said his re-election meant Sadc countries had confidence in his leadership and the country’s customs and forwarding systems.
He said other members of the executive included Mohammed Ali Afzal Delbar (Mauritius), Phillip Robert Wylie (South Africa), Edward Urio (Tanzania), Guy Kimenyembo (DRC) and Desiderio Fernandes (Mozambique).

“We are very happy to be representing the country at regional level and as the FCFASA we are going to work tirelessly to implement our five- year development plan which was adopted in 2012.

“Some of the key issues in the plan include the  setting up of a website for customs and forwarding agents in the region and also coming up with a training manual for our members in the region,” he said.

Musariri said the new executive would also work towards capacity building as well as coming up with strategies of increasing the region’s international trade.

He said they will also come up with a regional code of conduct for forwarding and customs clearing agents in Sadc.
“We need to do a project needs analysis study, where we can see areas needing attention in terms of capacity building.

“It is of paramount importance that we conduct ourselves professionally in terms of clearing and forwarding,” he said.
The FCFASA, Musariri said, would engage customs authorities in member states so that trade barriers are removed.

He added that they would work hard in providing a networking platform for their members and sharing of information in the changes in operations or customs regulations around Sadc.