‘One-stop border post missing link at Beitbridge’

Sunday, 10 April 2011 21:32

Beitbridge Bureau Chief THERE is urgent need for a one-stop border post at Beitbridge to quicken traffic movement, the Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce, Mike Bimha said last week on Thursday. Deputy Minister Bimha was visiting the border post. He said: "It is a learning experience for me and you will realise that most of the challenges facing the stakeholders manning this border post are of a similar nature and are cross cutting on all arms of Government. "This therefore calls for a well-coordinated inter-ministerial approach in dealing with most of these challenges. "We have to put our house in order as we move towards implementing the one-stop border post between Zimbabwe and South Africa." Under the one-stop post travellers only have to go to one counter, will ensure a speedy flow of traffic between the two countries. "We will exchange notes with our counterparts in Government on how best we can improve the situation at Beitbridge and speed up the movement of both human traffic and cargo," he said. "It is of paramount importance that all arms of Government read on the same page so that we successfully implement most of the stipulated policies around this area." The problems at Beitbridge included the unavailability of accommodation, human resources, poor infrastructure, non compliance with immigration or customs regulations, an increase in transit fraud cases and the shortage of funds to complete some of the capital projects. "Because of the type of activity at Beitbridge which is one of the busiest ports of entry in the region, there is a strong need to ensure compliance. "At the same time the service providers here must cultivate a degree of customer care. "We have had numerous reports from industrialists, businesspeople, travellers and other importers and exporters on the lack of client care here. "Apart from that we also noted with concern that the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority is keeping a lot of goods in their warehouses which can easily be disposed to those who are in dire need. "For instance they are keeping a lot of blankets which can be given to state hospitals, charity institutions and the prison rather than filling the warehouses with goods of no benefit. We need to get cargo moving. "This scenario calls for us as Government to review some of the policies that are leading to some of these challenges. "As much as we want revenue, our rates should be affordable so as to ensure compliance and the payment of customs duty and various levies collected at this border," he said. He said the Government would also work on modalities aimed at easing the burden car importers face and at the same time dealing with influx of second hand cars from countries in Asia. Deputy Minister Bimha said there was need for Government to formulate long term strategies that addressed the needs of people, while trying to avoid the flooding of second hand vehicles into the country. On average Zimra clears around 130 vehicles per day with official figures indicating that vehicle imports have surged by 36 percent following the review of excise duty by Government in January this year. It is understood that at Beitbridge Border Post, 3 150 vehicle submissions were made for the month of January 2011 compared to 2 310 vehicles imported in January 2010. www.herald.co.zw