SADC certificate increasing cargo volumes

The introduction of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) certificate in Zambia has had an enormous effect on trade into Zambia. This in turn has increased volumes of cargo moving from South Africa into Zambia. According to Kym Robson, general manager of Zamlinx, a Johannesburg-based company specialising in consolidations into Zambia, the SADC certificate has become an integral necessity to exporters in South Africa and importers in Zambia. “Indications are that by 2012 all goods imported from South Africa will be duty free. This will make a major cost difference if you take into consideration that the highest duties paid are in the region of 25%.” On the subject of the onestop border post, Robson is optimistic that given time, operations at the Chirundu border post will continue to improve, cutting down on standing time and massive losses incurred due to these delays. “We have over the past 12 months seen an improvement in border operations and we have found that we are incurring far fewer delays than in the past,” says Robson. Robson says, as the first and only functioning onestop border post in Southern Africa, improvements to infrastructure and systems at the border post have played a significant role in the easier movement of cargo to Zambia. “Operations have improved dramatically and while the border post no doubt still faces some challenges to truly make it a one-stop border post, it is almost a pleasure to clear through, with Customs making every effort to have documents and trucks cleared as quickly as possible.” Having worked in the industry – and specialising in Zambia – for the past 25 years, Robson says interest in Zambia continues to grow with the government of the country making concerted efforts to attract investment. “Investment in Zambia is very encouraging and there are many new business opportunities cropping up constantly,” she says. “And judging by January figures there is no slowing down. We are confident that 2011 is going to be an extremely busy year for investors, exporters, importers, transporters and entrepreneurs on the Zambian route.” Proof of the confidence in Zambia is evident with the Chinese announcing in January that they would be doubling their investments into the country to total some $2.4 billion this year. “Almost three decades of being involved in business into Zambia is proof enough that our belief and our loyalty to the Zambian market are second to none – whether in South Africa or in Zambia, we are at home.”