‘ABOLISH VISAS FOR TRADERS’ ENTRY INTO DRC’

GOVERNMENT should consider working out modalities with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government to abolish visas for small- scale traders exporting their agricultural products into that country to encourage exports. Copperbelt Cross Border Traders and Integrated Business Association (CCBTIBA) Publicity and Information chairperson Poster Jumbe said visas were costly, forcing traders to use bush paths to transport their products into the DRC. In an interview at the weekend, Mr Jumbe said visas were a hindrance to small scale traders seeking to export their agricultural products into DRC. He said, therefore, that it was imperative that Government abolished the requirement like it had done with Angola. “When going to Angola, you don’t need a visa because Government in conjunction with that country has abolished that requirement. You just need a passport, but when you want to sell the products into the DRC, you need a visa. Visas are costly to get and many of these traders cannot afford. This is why they use bush paths. “We are therefore asking Government and the DRC to consider abolishing Visas for small scale traders. If Government abolishes the visas, it will be much easy for traders to exploit to the DRC market,’’ Mr Jumbe said. Mr Jumbe said Zambia should be able to exploit the ready market for agricultural products in the DRC, especially with the promising peace and stability in that country. He said it was imperative that the Governments in the two countries make laws that would strengthen and promote business. “We need each other, our brothers and sisters in the DRC want mealie-meal and other agricultural products from Zambia. We also want something from them. So the best thing is to come up with laws that will benefit both of us. “With the promising peace and stability in the DRC, we need to be ready to exploit the ready market for agricultural products. We need to increase our production so that we can set a practical tone for diversification,’’ he said Mr Jumbe also appealed to the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry and COMESA to work with the CCBTIBA in facilitating the simplified trade regime. This would enable small- scale traders to export goods without paying duty. He said the implementation of the simplified trade regime would enable small scale traders grow and earn the much needed foreign exchange for the country. ‘’So if the simplified trade regime is implemented between the DRC and Zambia, then our farmers and traders will fully exploit the DRC market. This will also make them grow and earn the mi border and at Kazungula,'' he said.