Unified body adds muscle to forwarders’ lobbying power

BOTSWANA FREIGHT forwarders have found their voice once again. They’ve joined forces as a unified body to lobby government on customs and operational issues in the landlocked nation. Previous attempts at a united freight forwarders' guild yielded a divided association of locals and expats living in Botswana. “In the past most of the members were expats on contract, and when their contracts ended they left and the association fell apart,” Oduetse Makgane, chairman of the newly resurrected Botswana Freight Forwarders’ Association (BFFA) told FTW. Frustrated at inefficiencies, individuals made direct attempts at presenting industry-wide concerns to the government. “But Customs did not pay much attention to the individual – we expect things will be different this time around. “We are all working under the same conditions, and it’s not easy. A unified association has more power to persuade the government,” says Makgane. Re-registration of freight forwarders and clearing agents is one of the main priorities for the fledgling association. “We are looking to promote healthy competition by doing away with the briefcase operators that are undercutting the rest of us.” Makgane feels government will have to listen to him and the BFFA. “We are the core government revenue generator. They need us.” “These operators have created an artificial industry, and it’s not healthy for the legitimate business operations in Botswana,” adds Leif Bekker, managing director of Röhlig Botswana. The BFFA has been well received by the South African Association of Freight Forwarders and SA Customs, but many challenges still lie ahead. “We are working on the trust of the freight forwarders in Botswana, and attracting members is the priority at the moment.” The Botswana Unified Revenue Service (Burs) has been transformed into a strict, clinical outfit. “It is inflexible but it seems to be more efficient,” says Bekker. “There is no doubt that BURS has been chatting with Sars.” They went electronic last year, and there is a definite improvement in clearing times, says Bekker. The BFFA is also in consultation with the new Burs legislation, according to Makgane, who feels educating BFFA members on the new customs regulations is key to improving efficiency in the industry. For queries and membership info email omakgane@info.bw