Tighter customs controls clog up Beitbridge border

Moving cargo through Beitbridge border post continues to have its own particular challenges, according to Brian Kalshoven, GM of Beitbridge Border Clearing Agency (BBCA). But not all of these are internal. “Zimbabwe’s political and economic woes continue to bedevil trade,” Kalshoven told FTW. “A looming election in that country will affect trade, as happened at the last one.” And he saw this not purely as an issue within Zimbabwe, but also with cargo transiting to other Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states. “Constant efforts by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) and the SA Revenue Service (Sars) to gather revenue have led to more and more tight controls and increased inspections of cargo. Very laudable in the need to impose controls and collect taxes, but certainly deleterious to the movement of vehicles through the border.” Kalshoven condemned the random and frequent nature of this cargo stoppage and inspection. “The idea that examinations would be carried out only on a risk-based basis has certainly not come about at this particular border post – where congestion, infrastructure woes and corruption cause headaches on a daily basis.” Julie Langlois, marketing director of Linked Logistics, the marketing brand of BBCA, Regional Link and Professional Clearing, was equally critical. “Zimbabwe has become a very difficult country to trade in due to incessant electricity problems and connectivity to the customs systems,” she said. “In addition, the poor acquittal systems hamper bond entries for most agents.” Finding solutions is now more important than ever before, she added, as Beitbridge continues to be the port of entry of choice for the vast majority of transporters moving cargo north and south, to and from central and southern Africa.