‘SADC must be involved in implementation’

The one-stop concept is
clearly the answer for some
of Africa’s congested and
tired border posts – but unless the
correct procedures are followed
they will be doomed to fail.
Barney Curtis, executive
director of the Federation of
East and Southern African Road
Transport Associations (Fesarta),
says while one-stop border posts
are for the most part the answer,
it is important that SADC be
involved in the implementation.
“Several years ago SADC
decided to draw up a strategy
for one-stop border posts and
earmarked Chirundu as the pilot
project for the first such facility.
This strategy ensured there was
no duplication and that everyone
knew who was doing what.”
With Chirundu having achieved
one-stop status in December,
the next one on the list will be
earmarked by SADC.
“Several countries have tried
to go it alone and have failed.
There are just too many processes
involved, while funding is crucial.
If the right organisations are on
board, the funding comes along.”
Curtis says it is much more
fruitful to join the SADC initiative
than to try to go it alone.
“There are three processes
involved of which the first is legal.
This means that you need to have
a Memorandum of Understanding
signed by the two countries
involved and parliamentary laws
that allow for a one-stop facility.”
The second process is
procedural and just as important.
“This is all about the decisionmaking
– who is going to do
what and when, while the third
infrastructural process is about
ensuring that the right systems and
infrastructure are in place that can
allow a one-stop border post to
function.”