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.