‘Escort fees illegal along Tete Corridor’ – authorities investigate

Mozambique authorities are investigating incidents where South African-registered trucks have been charged up to US$150 for escorts from the Chuchamano border post along the Tete Corridor. This was announced on the Trade Barriers website as a follow-up to a Non-Tariff Barrier (NTB) complaint registered by the Federation of East and Southern African Road Transport Associations (Fesarta), stating that transporters are charged US$100 to be escorted to the Zobue border post and US$150 to the Calomue border post. The Fesarta NTB complaint states: “Transporters would prefer not to be escorted as it delays their trips. If the Mozambique authorities insist on this, then the cost should be covered by Mozambique.” A customs circular, published on July 1, 2013, states unequivocally that fiscal escorts happen “only and uniquely” in the case of customs transit of high-risk goods in terms of loss of revenue. It adds that in that case, Mozambique Revenue Authority (MRA) will have to support the escort expenses and that it is illegal to collect any escort fee.