The ManicaPost
Cletus Mushanawani
News Editor
AS Zimbabwe continues on improve its ease of doing business rankings, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) this week launched the Zimbabwe Electronic Single Window automated system that seeks to reduce border delays and congestion.
Mutare’s Forbes Border Post was identified as the host of the pilot project which was officially launched in June 2022.
Once fully rolled out, the system is expected to increase transparency and revenue inflows through enhanced collection of fees, duties and penalties.
Forbes Border Post, which was initially established as a tourist clearing point before lndependence, has now evolved to become one of the busiest ports of entry in the country, thanks to its proximity to the busy Sea Port of Beira.
The border post serves almost half of the Sadc region, and is clearing about 900 haulage trucks every day.
This has resulted in long and winding queues of trucks which at times stretch to Mutare city centre, thereby causing congestion.
However, all this will soon be a thing of the past with the implementation of the Single Window system.
A Single Window system is a facility that allows parties involved in trade and transport to lodge standardised information and documents electronically with a single entry point to fulfil all import, export and transit regulatory requirements.
The development of a Single Window environment to facilitate trade or cross-border movement of goods is a modern initiative that has been under consideration by a number of international organisations such as the World Customs Organisation, the United Nations, as well as several customs administrations across the world.
In an interview with The Manica Post at Forbes Border Post on Wednesday, Zimra’s compliance head, Mr Adrain Swarres said the project is being implemented in phases.
“It is a system that allows us to provide an automated platform to coordinate the activities and functions of the clearance processes of all the border regulatory agencies that operate at the ports of entry.
Mr Chabveka Marekera, the Forbes Border Post Regional Manager
“The project was officially launched in June 2022 and is being implemented in phases. The first phase is looking at bringing on board nine border regulatory agencies and stakeholders onto the system.
“The first phase is a three-year project, so we are just over one year into it. We identified Forbes Border Post as the host of the pilot project as it is one of the busiest border posts in the country.
“Although Beitbridge Border Post is the country’s busiest border post, by having Forbes Border Post as the host of the pilot projected, we wanted to have a controlled environment to ensure that we have efficient and effective implementation at the first stage,” said Mr Swarres.
On the changes that cross-border traders can expect from the new system, Mr Swarres said: “One of the changes that clearing agencies and the public should expect is that instead of going from door to door and from agency to agency looking for services like import licences and others, we will provide an automated platform where they can transact from the comfort of their offices and homes as long as they have access to the internet.
“They will be able to make their applications online, which will then go to all the concerned stakeholders who have interests in that particular product.
“The clients will receive a single automated response from all the agencies showing that the clearance has been done and they can proceed to have the consignment moved through the border post. Basically, we are providing an internet based platform for our clients to interact,” said Mr Swarres.
He said the new system will address the thorny issue of long queues at border posts.
“This will definitely decrease the turn-around time of clearing goods at our border posts. Zimra currently uses a pre-clearance based system, so by the use of this platform, we will ensure that when trucks arrive at the border post, all formalities are done across all stakeholders at once.
“It will definitely reduce the waiting times for trucks at our border posts. We will have checks and balances within the system for us to monitor which agency has dealt with or is yet to deal with the clearance.
Mr Innocent Onega
“Clients will receive automated responses through email and SMS, informing them on the stages of the clearance process. This will also ensure that all clearances are done timeously because no one wants to be blamed for delaying the clearing process.
“This system will definitely transform the manner in which we do business at the border,” said Mr Swarres.
Zimra’s Forbes Border Post regional manager, Mr Chapfeka Marekera said he looks forward to improved efficiency and effectiveness at the border post.
“We are grateful that Forbes Border Post was chosen as the first place for the implementation of the Single Window system and I look forward to improved efficiency and effectiveness at the border post,” said Mr Marekera.
The projects’ technical lead ICT consultant from the United Nations Conference for Trade and Developmeny (UNCTAD), Mr Innocent Onega said: “This project has been implemented in a number of countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
“In Africa, Rwanda has really benefitted from the Single Window system. Rwanda runs among the best in Africa in terms of ease of doing business and we expect to see the same benefits in Zimbabwe,” said Mr Onega.
“In terms of the development of the system, we partnered with the local Zimra team. It is a product that has very good input from local teams. It captures all the local needs of Zimra and its stakeholders. We are very positive that this system will ensure an improvement on the ease of doing business,” he said.
