News / Regional
Anti - Zimra protest at Beitbridge
07 Jul 2014 at 06:18hrs | Views
CHAOS reigns at the Beitbridge Border Post where commercial cargo has been stuck since Friday with truckers and clearing agents blaming the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) for causing delays.
Between Friday and yesterday afternoon, north-bound trucks (Zimbabwe) had blocked the commercial yard.
Business came to a standstill yesterday after truckers said they would not move from the border until Zimra improved its services.
"The situation here is deplorable, we've been stuck at the border since Saturday morning and there are no prospects that we'll be leaving the border anytime soon.
"All the customs documents have been processed but the officials at the release section (commercial) are taking their time to clear the trucks.
"I'm also worried that my transit permit to Zimbabwe will expire before I even enter the country," said Ian Mwale, a Malawian trucker.
In separate interviews, other truck drivers said they tried to engage Zimra management at Beitbridge Border Post over the delays without success.
They called on the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Patrick Chinamasa to intervene.
"We're very concerned with the way Zimra is approaching this situation. We've been engaging their management since Saturday morning, but nothing has materialised and we've resolved that no truck will leave the border post until they (Zimra) clean up their house," said another driver identified only as Mudavanhu.
When our crew arrived at the border post yesterday, about 80 truck drivers from different Southern African countries had grouped near the police base within the border post indicating that they would not leave the border post until Zimra addressed their grievances.
Most of the drivers said they had spent at least two days at the border post.
Trucks carrying an assortment of cargo including hazardous chemicals had blocked the commercial section.
The development also triggered delays in processing trucks from the South African side of the border into Zimbabwe.
Another driver who preferred anonymity said congestion started after Zimra decided to implement 100 percent searches on all commercial cargo despite having a small staff complement.
Zimra dispatched a team from its loss control department to the country's ports of entry following repeated reports of smuggling.
The vice chairman for the Shipping and Forwarding Agents Association of Zimbabwe (SFAAZ) Beitbridge chapter, Obert Shumba, said they were still engaging Zimra over the situation.
"We're worried about the status quo and we are engaging Zimra with a view of finding a quick solution to the problem.
"The delays are also affecting us as clearing and forwarding agencies. It is of paramount importance that we remove some of these barriers to international trade," said Shumba.
Zimra's communication officer Taungana Ndoro said they were yet to get information on the situation in Beitbridge.
At the time of going to press, Zimra's communication department was yet to respond to questions from this publication.
Between Friday and yesterday afternoon, north-bound trucks (Zimbabwe) had blocked the commercial yard.
Business came to a standstill yesterday after truckers said they would not move from the border until Zimra improved its services.
"The situation here is deplorable, we've been stuck at the border since Saturday morning and there are no prospects that we'll be leaving the border anytime soon.
"All the customs documents have been processed but the officials at the release section (commercial) are taking their time to clear the trucks.
"I'm also worried that my transit permit to Zimbabwe will expire before I even enter the country," said Ian Mwale, a Malawian trucker.
In separate interviews, other truck drivers said they tried to engage Zimra management at Beitbridge Border Post over the delays without success.
They called on the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Patrick Chinamasa to intervene.
"We're very concerned with the way Zimra is approaching this situation. We've been engaging their management since Saturday morning, but nothing has materialised and we've resolved that no truck will leave the border post until they (Zimra) clean up their house," said another driver identified only as Mudavanhu.
When our crew arrived at the border post yesterday, about 80 truck drivers from different Southern African countries had grouped near the police base within the border post indicating that they would not leave the border post until Zimra addressed their grievances.
Most of the drivers said they had spent at least two days at the border post.
Trucks carrying an assortment of cargo including hazardous chemicals had blocked the commercial section.
The development also triggered delays in processing trucks from the South African side of the border into Zimbabwe.
Another driver who preferred anonymity said congestion started after Zimra decided to implement 100 percent searches on all commercial cargo despite having a small staff complement.
Zimra dispatched a team from its loss control department to the country's ports of entry following repeated reports of smuggling.
The vice chairman for the Shipping and Forwarding Agents Association of Zimbabwe (SFAAZ) Beitbridge chapter, Obert Shumba, said they were still engaging Zimra over the situation.
"We're worried about the status quo and we are engaging Zimra with a view of finding a quick solution to the problem.
"The delays are also affecting us as clearing and forwarding agencies. It is of paramount importance that we remove some of these barriers to international trade," said Shumba.
Zimra's communication officer Taungana Ndoro said they were yet to get information on the situation in Beitbridge.
At the time of going to press, Zimra's communication department was yet to respond to questions from this publication.
Source - chronicle
