ZITF engages Zimra over clearance

Ngonidzashe Chiutsi Business Correspondent
THE Zimbabwe International Trade Fair Company is engaging the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority to ensure that foreign companies exhibiting at this year’s Trade Fair will have no hassles in bringing their goods into the country, an official has said.

Speaking in Bulawayo last week ZITF chairman Mr Bekithemba Nkomo said they were engaging various stakeholders to ensure that exhibitors do not face delays in bringing their goods into the country.

“On the issue of delays in the clearance of goods and related things, we are working with stakeholders who work closely with Zimra and we are already in discussions with them to see how best we can make sure that goods that are coming for trade fair are not delayed unnecessarily,” he said.

Mr Nkomo urged exhibitors to bring their goods early to avoid delays at the border.
“We also urge our exhibitors to bring their goods well in time before the exhibition gets going so that they can be cleared and if there are hassles there is still time to correct and change the situation. We are approaching from all angles, that is, the angle of the exhibitors and as well as from the positions with discussion with Zimra so that we facilitate the movement of both people and goods in good time,” said Mr Nkomo.

In the previous exhibitions, exhibitors faced challenges in bringing their goods through the country’s border posts, especially at the Beitbridge border.

Beitbridge is the busiest border post in southern Africa, handling about 9 000 travellers into South Africa in a single ordinary day.

The figure sometimes soars to over 25 000 during holidays.
The business community has expressed concern over the situation at Beitbridge border post, saying the long queues had seriously affected the flow of business.

Mr Nkomo said they were also in touch with the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority to ensure there was an uninterrupted supply of power.

The international trade showcase, which had initially been set for between 21 and 25 April, will now run from 28 April to 2 May.

Zambian president Mr Edgar Lungu is set to officially open the 56th edition of ZITF in Bulawayo which will be held under the theme, “Stimulating Trade, Seizing Opportunities to Accelerate Growth.”