Maravi

ZRA commits to clearing goods within 30 days

ZRA commits to clearing goods within 30 days
By Chibaula Silwamba
Friday March 07, 2008 [03:00]

THE Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has submitted to a World Bank delegation that it has initiated a coordinated programme with other government agencies to clear imports and exports within 30 days. In its submission dated February 2008 to the World Bank for consideration in the Doing Business report for 2009, ZRA stated that importers, exporters and the World Bank should this year expect further reductions in processing times as the integrated border process was adopted throughout all borders in Zambia.

ZRA stated that customs clearance would be made easier, more transparent, and more accessible, and that the number of pre-qualified imports in ZRA’s customs accredited clients programme was expected to increase.

“The total number of days required to import products into Zambia has been reduced from 64 days in 2006 to 33 days in 2007 and the total number of days required to export products from Zambia has been reduced from 53 days in 2006 to 19 days in 2007,” it stated.

ZRA stated that in 2007, it undertook reforms aimed at streamlining the clearance processes of imports and exports.

“These efforts include full-time participation in a multi-agency Border Management Task Force (BMTF) which has mapped and re-designed clearance procedures – the BMTF has implemented an integrated border process at the Lusaka International Airport and the port of Lusaka. The significance of the integrated border process is that it allows

governmental agencies to simultaneously process imports and exports; implementation of a customs accredited clients programme which will permit accredited importers and exporters to clear borders through a green lane with only a cursory review of paperwork, that is, clear the border within two hours.

This programme conforms to a mandate by the World Customs Organisation and is the first of its kind implemented in Africa,” the ZRA stated.

“The refurbishment of the port of Lusaka and its empowerment to process imports, allowing shipments to proceed to Lusaka and clearances to be processed at bonded warehouses;

centralisation and upgrading of its ASYCUDSA++ software allowing sharing of data easily with Tanzania and Zimbabwe, as well as the application of uniform tariffs, discouraging importers’ use of different ports of entry to negotiate lower tariff and strengthening its post-audit capacities to allow review of a greater proportion of imports after delivery in Lusaka and other points in Zambia.”

ZRA stated that the integrated border process would be extended to Chirundu and Nakonde borders.

Labels: ZRA

posted by MrK @ 3:32 AM