The Council of Ministers of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has urged member states to comply with the guidelines on the harmonisation and facilitation of cross-border transport operations across the region to ensure cargoes are not held up unnecessarily at border posts.Adopted across the region after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the guidelines call for the mutual recognition by member states of Covid-19 test results and validity period of 0-14 days.Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax, SADC executive secretary, said notwithstanding the commendable measures put in place by member states to contain Covid-19, the pandemic remained a challenge, not only in the region, but around the world.Traffic f low at borders has remained congested as the pandemic prompted countries to impose measures to contain the spread of the virus which in turn restricted movement of goods, services and people across borders.SADC, the East African Community (EAC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) came up with a holistic approach to control the movement of essential goods and personnel at the borders by introducing measures to minimise the spread of Covid-19. This led to member states adopting the Tripartite Guidelines on Trade and Transport Facilitation for safe, efficient and cost-effective movement of goods and services during the Covid-19 pandemic.The guidelines are aimed at containing the spread of the virus, while facilitating trade and movement of goods and services. They represent minimum uniform regulations, procedures and standards to minimise disruptions in the supply chain.According to Dr Tax, the guidelines seek to ensure smooth and uninterrupted movement of goods and services during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic by balancing, aligning, harmonising and coordinating response measures by the various countries.Delegates at the meeting were told that the programme had increased efficiency of the transport corridors.
