ZRA data system blamed
… system incompatibility causing huge losses
By MUKOSELA KASALWE THE Automated System Custom Data software has been blamed for causing long delays in the clearing process at borders because it was not com- patible with the current internet connectivity in use, says Customs Clearing and Freight Forwarders Association president Bruce Kaemba. He said the slow speed and intermittent connection of Automated System Custom Data (ASYCUDA) system was of great concern as it frequently collapsed due to internet failure.
In a statement issued yesterday, Mr Kaemba said the same day Finance Minister Felix Mutati toured Chirundu border, the Asycuda World system was down in Livingstone from about 13:00 hours to 17:00 hours which meant that there was no Clearing Agent able to register entry and that Government lost huge sums of money in uncollected revenue.
Mr Kaemba said the Asycuda World was hastily introduced by ZRA over-looking the concerns and inputs which various stakeholders would have had on this system before it was implemented. “We have time and again pointed out that the ASYCUDA World in its current form is incompatible with the speed of our current internet connectivity.
For example, while Mr Mutati was on a conducted tour of Chirundu border, the ASYCUDA World system was down in Livingstone. That meant that no Clearing Agent was able to register their entry. Over and above government lost huge sums of money in uncollected revenue,” he said.
Mr Kaemba said the Tanzanian Revenue Authority (TZR) have listened to the advice given to them by Clearing Agents from that country, and have abandoned the use of Asycuda World.
Mr Kaemba said their demand was that the Asycuda World be discarded immediately if the country was to secure adequate government revenue.