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(HERALD) Zim-Moza visa deal spawns traffic boom

Zim-Moza visa deal spawns traffic boom
From Walter Muchinguri in BEIRA, Mozambique

THE scrapping of visas for travellers between Zimbabwe and Mozambique last Wednesday has spawned a huge increase in the volume of traffic through Forbes Border Post, about 11 kilometres from Mutare city centre. The once sleepy border post is now a hive of activity with motorists battling to secure parking space on either side of the post. So huge is the volume of traffic that Zimbabwe Revenue Authority officers manning the border are failing to cope.

"I don’t think the situation will let up any time soon because the fever is still fresh and we are getting people from different parts of the country coming through.

"I think we will be swamped come weekend because some people have not been able to come through since they would be at work.

"Our bosses should start thinking about beefing up our numbers because, as you can see, the demand is high," said a Zimra officer, who preferred anonymity.

Most people passing through the border were first-time travellers taking advantage of the new development to do their shopping outside the country.

Moneychangers were also upbeat.

"One is allowed to take only $5 million across the border which does not buy much when converted to meticals (Mozambican currency) so they have to change their money on the Zimbabwean side to avoid trouble with Zimra officers. This has created opportunities for us," said a moneychanger as he hopped about looking for prospective clients.

Pirate taxi operators are also enjoying roaring business. They are now charging up to $700 000 a trip for the 10km distance from the border into Mutare and vice-versa.

Most first-time travellers flock to the Mozambican town of Manica, about 18km from the border, instead of Chimoio, which is about 100km away.

Prices of much-sought-after goods like rice, flour, cooking oil and soap were relatively constant in Manica and Chimoio, but varied at a popular selling point on the Mozambican side popularly known as "Pamimango".

A 25kg pack of rice, popular with most shoppers, was selling at between 260 meticals and 330 meticals, roughly equivalent to $13 million and $15 million. Mazoe Orange Crush and powdered milk are also readily available in Mozambique.

Shoppers urged other travellers to abide by set rules to ensure the agreement holds. The Government, travellers said, should extend operating hours at the border to ease congestion.

"This is something that should be applauded by both Zimbabweans and Mozambicans alike and for some of us it has brought relief because we have had to endure and tolerate traders who were ripping us off at every turn. Tanga tanzwa nekugegedzwa," said Mr Elliot Katsi of Mutare.

Mr Loud Chifa of Harare, who was on his maiden trip here, hailed both governments for scrapping visas, saying the move had afforded him a chance to travel outside the country.

"Whereas in the past one required upwards of $8 million to acquire a visa, we now have to pay $4 million in border fees only. Besides, I can now afford to buy the groceries I need and choose from a wide selection of shops and markets as opposed to waiting for someone to import the groceries for me," he said.

Most traders, however, feared border fees would push them out of business.

"We are not happy with the issue of border fees because they are way too high for some of us who travel daily to and from Mozambique.

"This is because where we used to pay $16 million for a six-month visa, we now don’t need a visa but we have to pay a border fee of $4 million or US$3 or R40 or 34 meticals each time we travel to Mozambique. If you calculate the amount that I will need if I am to travel on a daily basis as I used to when I had my six-month visa, it amounts to a fortune," said Mr Justin Kuipa, one of the traders.

In addition, the traders said, the scrapping of visas had made Mozambican goods more expensive.

"When the visas were still in place, it was mostly us (traders) who were going in and in most cases we used to go in with items that we would sell in Mozambique for us to get meticals or in exchange for the goods that we wanted.

"Our bearer cheques have flooded the market, resulting in the metical gaining heavily against the Zimdollar," said another trader, who requested anonymity.

Labels: MOZAMBIQUE, VISAS, ZIMBABWE

posted by MrK @ 2:41 PM