Zimra reverts to manual cargo import clearance

THE Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) has resorted to processing imports and exports of commercial goods manually after technicians failed to resuscitate the Automated System for Customs Data (Asycuda-World plus), which broke down on Wednesday last week.

The development has resulted in Zimra clearing an average of 100 trucks per day entering of leaving the country, down from 500. Further, truck parks on the South African side of the border are failing to contain the increasing number of vehicles destined for Zimbabwe and countries north of the Zambezi River.

Customs clearing agents said yesterday that the breakdown was the worst they have witnessed this year.

"This is not good for business at all.  Now they are doing the entries manually and the process takes between three and four days to complete. Government is losing a lot of money in potential revenue due to the status quo.

"At the same time transporters are incurring losses on demurrage costs due to these delays," said a clearing agent who preferred anonymity.

The official also said they were being made to pay a deposit of $100 per entry to Zimra for them to have their documents processed.

Chairperson of the Shipping and Forwarding Agents Association of Zimbabwe (SFAAZ) Beitbridge chapter, Mr Laddie Gamanya, said the situation was deplorable.

"We have engaged Zimra over the issue and they have resorted to the manual clearance system as a fall back plan. However, the idea has failed to help matters and we now have a ballooned backlog of entries as a result of the pace at which the customs officers are processing the bill of entries.

"Everyone in the trade value chain is affected and we are urging Zimra to seriously address these challenges," he said.

Zimra's head of communications, Mr Canisio Mudzimu said in a statement yesterday that they had put interim measures to ensure the delays at ports of entry are minimised. He said they were working around the clock to restore normal services.

"Please be advised that the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority is experiencing challenges with the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) World system.

"This has resulted in delays in clearance of traffic at the ports of entry. To mitigate against these challenges, we have put in place interim interventions to ensure that the delays in clearances at ports of entry are minimised and that there is continuity in the clearance of travellers," he said.

Mr Mudzimu said the measures were in-line with the parastatal's business continuity plan to ensure clearance of travellers and commercial cargo.

He said where importers/clearing agents proved that the required duties and taxes has been paid into the Zimra prepayment account, such consignments was being released on the basis of such proof. It is understood that the proof of payment includes bank deposit slips or documents, which are verifiable with the authority's commercial banks.

"The interim measures are yielding positive results as delays in clearance of travellers and cargo continue to reduce significantly. We sincerely apologise for the inconveniences that have been experienced by the importing and exporting public during this period," said Mr Mudzimu.