The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) has officially commissioned its Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS) in an effort to curb smuggling and transit fraud.
Zimbabwean Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Patrick Chinamasa, launched the system in Harare yesterday (Wednesday), noting that this was part of the government’s objective to “usher in a new transit management regime” in the country.
“Zimra invested in this US$2.1 million electronic system to help officials crack down on illicit trading which costs the government millions of dollars annually in lost revenue,” a Zimra spokesperson told FTW Online.
He pointed out that since the implementation of Statutory Instrument 64 – restricting the import of up to 43 products – illegal smuggling and transit fraud had intensified.
“Border posts are now equipped with detectors, mobile scanners, luggage scanners and closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras. But it is goods that are smuggled under the guise of being transported to other regional destinations that are being specifically targeted by the cargo tracking system,” he said.
Chinamasa said in a statement that funding for the ECTC had been obtained though the African Development Bank.
The ECTS attaches electronic seals to all transit cargo at the point of entry via any Zimbabwe border post. It uses geo-fencing technology, supported by Google Maps, to ensure the accuracy of location and movement of transit cargo, as the cargo is monitored in real time up to the point of exit. “The electronic sealing devices send an alarm to the system’s control room on any violations, which include seal tampering, seal opening and incidents of geo-fence violations,” the spokesperson said.
The system has also been integrated into Zimra’s existing Customs clearance system Asycuda World.
