Customs training crusial to smooth border flow

Training of customs officials is crucial for the swift f low of cargo at borders, according to Lucas Barreto, chairman of the Botswana Freight Forwarders’ Association. “We are constantly engaging with customs top management to address challenges as and when they appear,” he told FTW. “The policies and procedures are all in place and customs has been working closely with the association to put into place systems that allow for faster turnaround of trucks – but more often than not when there is a problem we find that it is due to the official at the border post not necessarily understanding or knowing what to do.” He said major inroads had however been made in recent years and customs in the country was working hard to ensure processes were user friendly and aimed at facilitating trade. “Customs is definitely working with us in Botswana and not against us. Our standing time at border posts is relatively low in comparison to many other countries in southern Africa. When we talk about a truck delay it is about six hours at the most,” he said. This is for most of the country’s borders bar the Kazungula border post, said Barreto. “The issues at Kazungula are, however, not because of customs but because of the ferry. It is not unheard of for a truck to be waiting in a queue for 14 days to catch the ferry. It really is a big problem.” And with construction on the bridge crossing the Zambezi finally under way, delays are expected to get far worse before they improve. “Five years from now we can expect crossing the river to be quick and relatively simple, but we have some way to go before we get there. At this stage we still have to contend with the construction works on top of everything else at the river crossing.” Barreto said having recently toured all of the country’s border posts the association was very impressed with the customs operations and the high regard for freight. “There is a very real understanding that we have got to move goods faster and that any hold-up adds significant costs,” he said. INSERT 6 hours Kazungula bridge gets moving - not a moment too soon Logistics operations in southern Africa are set to improve, as construction of the long-awaited Kazungula Bridge across the Zambezi River has finally got under way. “It is indeed good news,” said Gareth Lendrum, general manager of Bollore Africa Logistics in Botswana. “The impact of the bridge is going to be massive on logistics operations. It will significantly reduce truck standing times and increase border f low. It will also allow for the formalisation of a lot of the clearing that happens at the border post and it will significantly improve the security situation.” Cargo between Botswana and Zambia is currently moved across the Zambezi via ferry. It is a slow and tedious process that often sees trucks waiting for days to cross the river, while the lack of security results in massive cargo losses. Construction of the new bridge that incorporates both road and rail is set to be completed by 2018 and is estimated to cost around $259.3 million. The Zambian and Botswana governments will finance it with assistance from the African Development Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency. “The bridge has been on the agenda for many years,” said Lendrum. “It is a crucial link for freight from South Africa to Lusaka and the other mining towns in Zambia, as well as into the DRC’s Katanga province.” Only some 30 trucks are ferried in each direction per day and the average waiting time can be anything from five days to longer. A one-stop border post will be opened where Zambian and Botswana officials will work together to move both cargo and people across the river faster. Zambia already operates a onestop border post with Zimbabwe at Chirundu. INSERT 14 days The length of time that can be spent queuing for the Kazungula ferry. CAPTION The Kazungula Ferry ... the source of major border delays.