Single data entry for customs on Trans Kalahari Corridor

The customs systems of Botswana
and Namibia are expected to be able
to “talk to each other” by the middle
of next year.
Cargo manifests and other
customs information will only
have to be entered once into
the system, according to Bevan
Simataa, executive director of the
Trans Kalahari Corridor Secretariat
(TKCS).
It was decided to start sharing
data between the customs authorities
in Botswana and Namibia because
they work on the same system,
and South Africa is in the process
of implementing a new system, he
says.
However, the two systems proved
to be incompatible, and a “third
party solution” had to be found.
This is an advantage, as it will
be able to plug into the South
African system once it comes
on stream as well.
Customs heads in Namibia and
Botswana have agreed in principle
to share data, which will help speed
up transit through the border, and
will give authorities greater control
over the cargo in transit, he says.
It will not be necessary to lodge
the same documents on both the
Namibian and Botswana sides
of the border, as the information
will be transferred and shared
electronically. “There will only be
a few adjustments to meet local
regulations,” he says.
Once the “legal framework” is in
place in both countries, the project
will be piloted.
It will also take the corridor closer
to the goal of having “one stop”
border posts.
The project is expected to be
implemented in the second quarter
of 2011.