ZRA chief explains delays at Chirundu border
By BUUMBA CHIMBULU NON-payment of taxes and delay in declaring documentations for cargo by clearing agents are among the various reasons which have contributed to increased hours of clearing goods at the Chirundu one stop border post, says the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA).
This follows concerns by the Minister of Finance, Mr Felix Mutati, that many trucks were marooned at the border post due to the slow pace of clearing goods which had resulted in less revenue collection by Government.
According to ZRA commissioner general, Kingsley Chanda, trucks could not be cleared if the authority and other institutions at the border did not have documentation for the trucks, thereby creating huge congestion at the boundary.
“The trucks come to the border and the clearing agents has not declared the goods, as far as we are concerned, we cannot know about the truck unless if it is declared to us, you will find that the clearing agents take their time for whatever reasons before they declare,
“That is why we are saying clearing agents must quickly clear, once they get documents that the truck is about to start from South Africa, they must immediately make a declaration to customs so that by the time the truck gets to Chirundu, it is already cleared we just do preliminary checks and release it,” he said.
Mr. Chanda said in an interview that trucks could not be released from the border post if they had no proper documentations and no taxes paid.
He explained that these challenges were being experienced from both the Zambian and Zimbabwean sides which most of them were beyond customs control.
Mr. Chanda observed the need to reduce turnover for trucks to allow them bring in more cargo and revenue in the country.
He explained that trucks were spending eight days to travel from South Africa through Zimbabwe and then Zambia to deliver the cargo and then go back for more.
“We usually have a situation where somebody comes to the border and they have no money to pay the taxes.
“Now if we do not trust them like they are not accredited, we cannot release the goods before they pay. So you will find that the trucks will be there as long as the taxes are not paid,” Mr. Chanda said.