Mistrust holds back Zimbabwe pre-clearance support

Zimra audit query form one of the issues ALAN PEAT IN ZIMBABWE the customs authorities have introduced pre-clearance for cross-border road cargoes – a move which should speed up things enormously, according to Brian Kalshoven, MD of Beitbridge Border Clearing Agency and the SA Association of Freight Forwarders (Saaff) representative for the area. “They previously insisted that the vehicle be on Zimbabwe soil before the bill of entry could be submitted to customs,” he told FTW, “which meant a two to three day wait for trucks at the border post before the documentary process for clearance could be completed.” But, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) told a meeting in Beitbridge – where SA Revenue Service (Sars) customs, SA home affairs immigration, the SA Police Service (Saps) and their Zimbabwe equivalent, and transport representatives from both countries were in attendance – they were disappointed that the pre-clearance facility which they had implemented a month ago was not being used. “Apart from a complete lack of publicity from the Zimbabwe customs,” said Kalshoven, “one of the Zimbabwean transporters observed that the facility wasn’t being used as the agents were mistrustful of it due to two unresolved factors.” First was that some agents had received Form 45 - a Zimra audit query form, with the possibility of the imposition of penalties – when submitting copies of Southern African Development Community (SADC) and other collateral clearing certificates with their draft bills of entry (BoL). “However,” said Kalshoven, “Zimra told us that this Form 45 could be countered with the explanation that this was a pre-clearance - and that the originals were to be submitted upon arrival of the vehicle. “This is the same procedure as pre-clearances on the SA side – where the importer or his agent has 14 days to get the goods to the border after the pre-clearance procedure has been completed.” The second hassle surrounded the question of fixing the date of the rate of exchange which was to be used. But, while the Zimra officers responded that the date of the vehicle manifest was to be used for ascertaining the rate of exchange, this was not a complete answer to the question, according to Kalshoven. “Unlike SA customs,” he said, “who get updated exchange rates each day, the Zimbabwe authorities only get these weekly. “And, given the volatility of the currency exchange and inflation rates in that country, this sort of gap between updates could see an enormous change in the exchange rate in that week-long period.” However, everyone agreed that this pre-clearance procedure was a boon. “This is something for which we have been fighting for some time,” Kalshoven said, “and is, in my opinion, a major step toward improving the flow of traffic through this border post.” Brian Kalshoven … ‘a major step toward improving the flow of traffic through this border post.’