Unnamed source speaks his mind on Zimbabwe border delays

Drivers sometimes queue for up to three days CLIVE EMDON IN ASSIGNING blame for border delays, one source who preferred to remain anonymous was unequivocal: “Most problems are on the Zimbabwe side. “The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe/ Customs (ZIMRA) insists on vehicle inspections but makes ad hoc changes to the rules that are introduced without warning. They start scanning every vehicle heading south and that can take 3-4 days as the queue sometimes reaches 3-4 kilometers long.” According to our source, if they claim there is a problem with a truck, an investigation or an inquiry is immediately undertaken. “Trucks queue for two days and once they reach the scanners are turned back to off-load part of the consignment in the container depot. They must then join the back of the queue and once scanning is complete the driver has to return to the depot to collect the part load which was off-loaded, causing more delays. “Problems occur if the documents are ‘lost’ on their side or if there is a power failure, which means their computers go off-line or the server is not working for two weeks. “When drivers are queuing we have runners on both sides of the border exchanging copies of documents. Once drivers have joined the queue, they are not allowed to leave their trucks. Depending on the situation at the time, drivers may have to queue for up to three days! Sometimes they get robbed in their cabs and the police don’t react yet are present when attacks occur. “We also encounter roadblocks in transit through Zimbabwe – sometimes up to13 in one trip coming south, which just adds to the frustration. The Zimbabwean police will find faults and demand money at each one as a bribe to get the truck moving. It’s getting worse.” By comparison the South African side is efficient, except when there is a strike or a power failure, he said.