The Zimbabwean government has launched a five-year Trade Facilitation Roadmap which seeks to simplify, harmonise and modernise export and import processes, among other things. The roadmap, which will be implemented from 2018 to 2022, was produced in collaboration with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the United Kingdom’s Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs service and the European Union.
Permanent Secretary for Industry and Commerce, Abigail Shonhiwa, pointed out at the launch last week that Zimbabwe hoped to reduce the number of Import documents required from 11 to six and export documents from nine to five. The country is also hoping to reduce the time it takes to comply with border requirements from nine days and 12 hours to four days and 18 hours for imports and from three days to 36 hours for exports by the year 2022.
Shonhiwa added that this would further reduce the costs associated with imports and exports. “We also hope to simplify and harmonise practices and procedures for our SMEs (small and medium enterprises) who find it difficult to comply with some of the procedures at borders. We are hoping to identify ways of making trade simpler and clearer to even the smallest enterprise.
A truck driver who regularly uses the Beitbridge border post told FTW that since the new regime in November last year there had already been “great strides” made in curbing corruption at the border. “Now when we cross we only see army personnel and no police or other border officials demanding hand-outs.”
Quote: It currently costs US$562 to comply with import requirements. – Abigail Shonhiwa
