ZRA now processing exports inland
By BUUMBA CHIMBULU
THE Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has started processing exports from inland ports before they proceed to the exit border post in an effort to promote efficient cross-border trade.
The initiative promotes economic growth through efficient cross-border trade and smooth trade, according to the ZRA Corporate Communications Manager, Topsy Sikalinda.
“The Authority continues to innovate with both products and processes. The latest being the initiative to allow all exports to be processed from inland ports before they proceed to the exit border post.
“With the increasing levels of international trade, Zambia’s is being proactive in ensuring that there is less traffic congestion at all its major border ports, this is also in line with the fight against the deadly Covid-19 disease,” Mr Sikalinda said in an interview.
He explained that under the current practice, outbound lorries with goods for exports would drive to borders without any customs documents.
Once at the border, Mr Sikalinda said, they would queue up on the sides of the highway or park in private yards awaiting completion of export formalities at customs.
He indicated that in most instances, handlers and their appointed customs clearing and forwarding agents only commence the customs export clearance process at the border upon arrival of the goods.
Mr Sikalinda regretted that this scenario had contributed to avoidable delays and congestion at border posts.
“The benefits of processing exports at inland customs offices range from enhanced trade facilitation as trucks carrying exports will not have to queue at the borders waiting for the processing of exports documents but only undertake exit formalities:
“It eliminates congestion at the borders thereby limiting the spread of Covid-19 and better control and monitoring of exports of restricted products such as Mukula timber,” he said.
Mr Sikalinda said other benefits included relieving the workload of the limited staff complement at border posts thereby allowing them to concentrate on processing of imports with revenue.
The initiative, he said also reduced costs of doing business due to the expeditious border crossing process at exit points.
“Currently, border posts have to split their resources to attend to (i) imports where most of the revenue from trade taxes is collected from, (ii) goods in transit to other countries, and (ii) exports from Zambia.
“The combined volumes of all these categories of vehicular traffic outstrip the holding capacity of the available parking space at border posts,” he said.
