Border inspections slow down traffic

Border delays remain one of the biggest challenges in the movement of cargo in Africa. According to Paul Lawrence, chief operating officer of Ziegler South Africa, this often leads to increased costs. “There are various reasons for border delays – from documentation not being processed timeously to not having the correct Customs staff on hand to deal with issues that arise,” said Lawrence. “We have streamlined our processes and procedures and try to pre-clear all consignments if at all possible; however there are sometimes delays in receiving the correct documents from shippers, consignees or transporters. On consolidated loads it only takes a problem with one consignment to delay the whole truck, sometimes for days. “The Customs Border Control Unit is another issue that we have to contend with, especially when it comes to attending to the imposed stops and inspections. In some cases it takes up to 3-5 hours to attend to a stop.” Logistics studies in East and Southern Africa have found that while the lack of infrastructure plays a major role in the escalating costs of logistics, the key factor is the delays experienced at border crossings. Lawrence says while some borders operate far more efficiently than others there are some real challenges to overcome if cargo is to move faster. “Some transporters prefer to use the Groblersbrug border post rather than Beitbridge when going to Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) because of the congestion,” he explained. “There is a far greater chance of a speedy clearance on both sides thanks to less traffic and volumes moving through. Beitbridge, on the other hand, continues to be congested which results in major delays.” According to Lawrence the industry remains reliant on Beitbridge which is why it is important that problems are addressed. “We have to find solutions for the border delays,” he said. “Not only will we reduce costs but we will also increase trade in the region.” INSERT & CAPTION In some cases it takes up to 3-5 hours to attend to a Customs stop. – Paul Lawrence