Connectivity the key to freeing up trade

Improved connectivity is the key to increasing the competitiveness of Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, says Joseph Musariri, president of the Federation of Clearing and Forwarding Agents of Southern Africa (FCFASA). FCFASA’s registered offices are in Harare, and current members include Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique and Mauritius. Musariri, who is also chief executive officer of the Shipping and Forwarding Agents’ Association of Zimbabwe (SFAAZ), says the lack of connectivity means that there is no “real time acquittal of transit cargo. “We need to automate and to reduce human interventions,” he says. Where systems have gone online, there are often delays due to power outages and software problems. Another challenge is that the systems of countries in the region do not communicate with each other. An example is the new “one stop” border post at Chirundu between Zambia and Zimbabwe. “It is not performing to expectations. One of the problems is the lack of connectivity between the Zimbabwean and Zambian sides. Entries are still done manually on the Zambian side,” he says. Office accommodation also needs to be built at Chirundu. Further delays are caused by the closing of border posts. Freight needs to move 24 hours a day, but the border posts do not. The authorities are recognising the problems, and improvements are being made, he adds. Border posts like Beitbridge are starting to operate 24 hours a day, and work is being done on creating connected one-stop border posts throughout the region.