Alan Peat
THE DISCONCERTING decision by Zambian
customs authorities to impose a demand for a customs carriers licence from foreign hauliers from February 1 seems to have been put on the back burner, according to Edward Little, executive director of SAAFF (SA Association of Freight Forwarders).
This legislation - only on RIB or RIT traffic - would
be impossible for SA or Zimbabwean carriers to comply with in time for that deadline.
The disturbing additional demand, according to Little, is for carriers (or the responsible forwarders)
to lodge a bond with Zambian customs for 100-million kwachas (R190 000) when applying for the licence.
The first problem with that, he said, is that you'd need insurance cover for the guarantee. And there is no such insurance policy in place in SA at this time.
Then, as they're demanding payment in Zambian kwachas, you'd need Reserve Bank approval.
SAAFF contacted P.C. Mwansa, Zambian customs commissioner, and requested that he consider postponing implementation until June 1 so that matters could be sorted out.
However, for whatever reason, that February deadline looks to have
fallen aside, according to Little.
In mid-January, Roland Norton, chairman of Fedhaul in Zambia, sent SAAFF a fax in which he said: I have met with the assistant commissioner - controls here in Lusaka. At this point in time, the issue relating to the bonds has been shelved till further notice.
Little is currently communicating direct with Mwansa in an attempt to fully clarify the matter.
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