By OLIVER SAMBOKO
CROSS border traders, customs agents and insurance brokers have called for immediate amendment of the ZRA Statutory Instrument (SI) 115 of 2020 to allow Kariba border post handle export of goods to the SADC region.
The agents have since written to Government and Siavonga Member of Parliament Darius Mulunda for intervention in the issue Despite Kariba qualifying to handle exports under the SI, the border post was removed from the list resulting in all goods passing through the border to be directed to the Chirundu one-stop border post.
Kariba Customs branch chairman, Ackim Chanda said the continued closure of Kariba border post for export transactions on motor vehicles and groceries has not only taken away business for locals but was also causing congestion at Chirundu. “We are dismayed that ZRA removed Kariba border from the list by way SI 115 of 2020, without any explanation from the authority,” he said. He said Government should compel ZRA to reopen Kariba Border for export of all eligible goods.
Mr Chanda said because of the SI, agents at Kariba Border have challenges to monitor the movement of goods after processing temporal importation permits of motor vehicles. This is because the Asycuda system cannot allow them to acquit the vehicles back to their country of origin using the sys – tem at the border.
Mr Chanda said reopening the border would help relieve pressure on Chirundu border which has to deal with large volumes of traffic on a daily basis.
