Free samples speed alcohol consignments through Customs

It can sometimes take up to five days to clear cargo at border posts in Africa, pushing up the cost of logistics. According to Ruth Butcher of Beyond Africa Logistics, keeping track of system changes and requirements is difficult and is often responsible for the delays. “The Zimbabwe side of Beitbridge is a good example of where customs tends to change its systems every few months. At border posts such as Kazungula for example, problems arise when the ferries stop working and the trucks can’t cross the river.” She said while the border post was not inefficient by any means the inability to cross the river resulted in major delays and ultimately saw the border post congested at times. “Regulations are also sometimes interpreted differently by various officials which can see cargo being held up. The length of time it takes to sort out issues also varies and differs from border post to border post.” She says moving cargo across borders efficiently and timeously must be a priority and to allow for this border posts have to be more speedy in processing documents. “To address the escalating logistics costs we have to move cargo faster, and the only way we can do that is if we address corruption in Africa. We often transport alcohol for example and officials will hold up the consignment until such time as they are given some – and then suddenly documents are processed quickly.” It is practices such as these that have caused problems in the movement of cross- border cargo. But, said Butcher, despite the challenges the continent also offers some great opportunities as cargo volumes are gradually increasing as Africa experiences continued growth. INSERT & CAPTION Regulations are sometimes interpreted differently by various officials which can see cargo being held up. – Ruth Butcher