By Thupeyo Muleya
The Shipping and Forwarding Agents’ Association of Zimbabwe (SFAAZ) has called for the establishment of a border control authority at Beitbridge border post in a move that is set to improve efficiency at the country’s busiest port of entry.
In an interview SFAAZ chief executive, Mr Joseph Musariri bemoaned the current status quo where there is no lead agency running the affairs at the border post.
He said the government should look into the issue as a matter of urgency.
At the moment any department at the border can implement their programmes wily nilly irregardless of the effects on the other parties.
Some of the stakeholders at the border post include; Department of Immigration, Insurance companies, Zimra, Police, Ministries of Health, Transport and Agriculture among other security agents.
“We are really concerned by the current situation at Beitbridge border post where everyone thinks they can implement their programs irregardless to the effects on other members. As SFAAZ we want a situation whereby we have an identified lead agent or have a port control authority which deals specifically with issues regarding the operations at this entry point.
“You will realise that South Africa has this authority on their sides and it makes it easy to deal with some operational and administrative issues” said Mr. Musariri.
He said such a port authority will deal with operations, administrative, security, health among other issues.
Mr Musariri said some of the delays and in efficiency in some departments at this entry point were a result of lack of monitoring; adding that with the establishment of the authority service delivery was bound to improve.
He also called on the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) to adopt the specialization concept which was formerly used by the then customs and taxes prior to its establishment.
“We are urging Zimra to have specialist officers to deal with certain areas of operations. This idea of moving officers from one department to another is fueling inefficiency. At some point you will come across with a Zimra officer not conversant with the task at hand and this cause unnecessary delays and confusion. They should classify them into Revenue specialists, Taxes, Customs and Excise, Vehicles, Administration and Operations rather than the current scenario. These officers’ functions should be clearly distinct. There is a serious need for Zimra to re organise themselves we want to have carrier customs and taxes officers” he said.
He said their members were more than ready to support the creation of such an authority.
An average of 25 000 people and between 3000 and 4000 vehicles pass through the border post everyday.
Of late congestion had become the order of the day at this area with travelers and importers pointing figures t the stakeholders at the border chief among them being Zimra.
However Zimra say some of the delays were a result of human resources shortages. Currently they have a staff complement of 120. They need 400 officers to operate at full strength.
This shortage of manpower has also given leeway to the current crop of Zimra officers who want push money to expedite their services.
He said they were urging the government to re-open the Old Limpopo Bridge under the Beitbridge efficiency management program to reduce human and vehicular congestions.
The CEO added that there was also need for the recapitalization of the National Railways of Zimbabwe as that was going to ensure a faster and efficient movement of cargo.
Mr Musariri added that the association had noted with resent the proliferation of some government agencies at the border charging exorbitant prices thereby delaying the movement of cargo.
“Some functions and services duplicate each other and we believe there should be a review with some of the revenue collection tasks taken back to Zimra” he said.
He added that then association was also lobbying for local authorities at most ports of entry to avail land for office and house construction for their members. The unavailability of accommodation, he said was also affecting their discharging of duties.
www.herald.co.zw24 August 2009
No comments:
Post a Comment