By PETER SICHALI
ZAMBIA Revenue Authority’s new customs management system is not sidelining local clearing agents, says its Corporate Communications Manager, Topsy Sikalinda.
Mr Sikalinda said contrary to claims by the Customs Clearing and Freight Forwarding Agents Association of Zambia, ZRA had simply automated the system.
“The customs management system is still under development by the Copperbelt University and ZRA,” he said in an interview.
He said ZRA was still using Ascuda on which a module has been activated.
Mr Sikalinda said the agent appointment module has been automated to allow importers appoint agents on the system.
“Previously appointment of agents was been done manually now it is been done through the system,” Mr Sikalinda said.
He said ZRA has not changed anything and those claiming that it will disadvantage the local agents are being malicious
“Nothing has changed, it’s the same process that has been automated,” he said.
Mr Sikalinda said the automated customs management system will prevent TPIN abuse and ensure that only genuine agents are given business.
He said said the system will also create sanity and safeguard importers and exporters against being swindled by bogus agents.
He said the automation of the agent appointment module was also in line with digitalisation of all services to make it efficient.
“All those things they are saying that it will give an upper hand to multinationals are all lies,” Mr Sikalinda said.
