Lubinda demands justice over Zambian killed by Congolese
By Kombe Chimpinde in Lusaka and Darious Kapembwa in Kitwe
Mon 09 July 2012, 13:24 CAT
FOREIGN affairs minister Given Lubinda has demanded that sufficient laws must apply when dealing with the Congolese who burnt Zambian truck driver Derrick Chanda to death last week. And normal operations have resumed at Kasumbalesa border after three days of protests by truck drivers following the burning to death of Chanda by Congolese.
Meanwhile, Congo DR Minister of Transport and Communication Kahozi Zumbo on Saturday evening nearly caused a stir when he claimed that Chanda was in fact Congolese and not Zambian.
In an interview yesterday, Lubinda said the government was aware and saddened that harassment of truck drivers at Kasumbalea border had been happening for some time now.
"Those are the issues our Ambassador in Kinshasa and our Consular General in Lubumbashi are following up with their counterparts. So it is not just this incident, it is all similar incidents that have occurred in the past so that we avoid the occurrence of this," he said.
Lubinda said the Congolese government through the Governor of Katanga Moses Katumbi had reported that some suspects had been apprehended. He called for peace and harmony between Zambians and Congolese who are in Zambia.
Lubinda said the Zambian government's interest was that the culprits are brought and prosecuted in the interest of justice.
"We will ensure that the culprits who torched the Zambian driver are brought to book and that sufficient punishment according to Congolese laws pertaining to offenders are applied," said Lubinda.
And during a three-hour meeting held on the Congolese side of the border to resolve the impasse, Zumbo who was delegated to represent Katumbi claimed that Chanda had a home in Congo at Lwashi village and that his relatives were actually holding a funeral waiting for his remains to be taken back to Congo.
The Zambian delegation was led by acting Chililabombwe district commissioner Stephen Chishiko.
Zumbo also belittled the office of the District Commissioner from Zambia by claiming that it was not the highest office to meet with him.
But Chishiko firmly countered his sentiments saying the office of district commissioner was third in the hierarchy of provincial administration and had the authority to handle the matter at that level.
"The highest authority in the province is the honourable provincial minister followed by the Permanent secretary, the deputy permanent secretary who is at the same level as me. And for your own information, his honour the Vice-President of the Republic of Zambia has made a statement on what is going on here, meaning government at the highest level is fully aware of whatever we are doing here," Chishiko told Zumbo to the satisfaction of the Zambian delegation.
And immediately Zumbo made the claims that Chanda was Congolese, there was a sense of shock and apprehension on the faces of the Zambian delegation members, especially the drivers. But Chishiko calmly disputed the minister's claim, urging them to concentrate on the demands of the SADC drivers.
"All the documentation, both work and personal indicates that Chanda is a Zambian and has a family here in Zambia, so the question of his nationality does not arise now. If there is anything like that, let us resolve it later and administratively. For now, let us deal with issues at hand. The owner of the truck is here and his records clearly show that Chanda is Zambian but we can resolve that later administratively," Chishiko said and the meeting progressed.
Zumbo also said the Congolese authorities had apprehended suspected arsonists who burnt the truck to which Chishiko urged him to ensure that justice prevails in the matter.
Some of the demands the truck drivers presented through their chairperson, Stanley Muluka, include security whilst in Congo, lessened inconvenencies in the clearance process involving unofficial third parties and commissions.
In response, Zumbo assured the drivers that their demands would be seriously looked into.
He directed Congo's chief immigrations officer to remove third parties in the clearing process and unnecessary commissions.
Meanwhile, trucks have started crossing into Congo without interruptions after Chishiko assured the drivers that the situation would be monitored in the next six months to see if all their demands would be met.
By 10:00 hours yesterday, several trucks had crossed into Congo.
"We have had quite a good number of them cleared to cross into Congo and I am sure as the day progresses, we will clear a very good number of the marooned trucks," said a customs official.
Labels: BORDER POSTS, DRC, GIVEN LUBINDA, KASUMBALESA, MURDER
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Confusion reigns at Congo DR border
By Staff Reporters
Sun 08 July 2012, 13:25 CAT
AN estimated 700 trucks are marooned on the Zambian side of the Kasumbalesa Border Post as
SADC truck drivers continue to protest over the killing of their colleague last Thursday.And ordinary Congolese have complained of hunger just three days of non-operations at Kasumbalesa border following the burning of a Zambian truck driver, Derrick Chanda, to death in Congo.
Meanwhile, some Congolese traders have been chased from Ndola streets while two were beaten by angry Ndola residents. The drivers who walked out of a meeting between the Zambian and Congolese officials called to resolve the stand-off Friday evening have continued to demand for an address by Katanga governor Moses Katumbi.
The meeting ended in a stalemate as the drivers refused to recognise the presence of Kasumbalesa mayor Andrea Kapampa and his delegation.
"What we have been told by our colleagues and what we know is that we came here to meet Katumbi, so since Katumbi is not here there is no meeting," said chairperson of the SADC Drivers Association Stanley Muluka as his colleagues walked away while Congolese officials watched in disbelief.
Present at the meeting were drivers from Malawi, Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia and a drivers' representative from Congo DR.
Later on after the drivers walked out, acting Chililabombwe district commissioner Stephen Chishiko addressed them on the Zambian side assuring them that the government would take their demands seriously.
Chishiko also thanked the drivers for the peaceful manner in which they were pursuing the issue.
And the Congolese who usually rely on Mealie-meal and other essential commodities from Zambia using the Kasumbalesa border have for the past three days failed to cross into neighbouring towns on the Zambian side as the irate drivers have kept vigil, turning away any Congolese pedestrian trying to trade in Zambia.
Zambia and Congo have strong trade links, especially in food stuffs as the Congolese buy several food needs from the Copperbelt.
When the Zambian delegation led by Chishiko visited Kasumbalesa, some Congolese who thronged their border offices with curiosity complained amongst themselves that the stubbornness by their authorities was 'killing' them as food supplies were becoming limited.
"Let them just apologise, these Zambians are serious. We are suffering, if they don't depend on Zambia for food we, depend on this border for daily essentials, let them listen. Three days is long enough, very soon our children will start dying of hunger because of a few individuals…," complained the Congolese as the Zambian delegation passed.
Other border officials said they were worried that mining operations within Congo would be affected as they depended on the fuel that passes through Zambia.
There was no activity at the border yesterday as security personnel and border authorities from Zambia were still awaiting communication from the higher authorities while trucks kept piling up at the border.
Zambians living near the border have for a long time complained of kidnappings and rape cases involving Congolese nationals.
And traders around Ndola's Town Centre have asked Congolese nationals to stop selling their merchandise in Ndola and demanded that they go back to their country. The traders, together with minibus drivers, have threatened to demonstrate if Congolese nationals continue trading in Ndola. And Truck Drivers Association of Zambia president George Kasalika said the Zambian and Congolese governments should put a stop to the killing of truck drivers.
Kasalika said this is not the first time a truck driver has been killed in Congo as many had been attacked in similar ways.
"It is not the first time our drivers are being killed; many drivers have died like animals in the hands of the Congolese, last time a Zimbabwean driver was killed on the Congolese side," he said.
Kasalika complained that many Congolese live a peaceful life in Zambia even without travelling documents which Zambians do not enjoy in Congo, because even Congolese police officers who were supposed to offer protect harassed them when they didn't possess immigration documents.
Meanwhile, there was confusion at Lusaka City Market yesterday when some angry traders attempted to destroy goods belonging to Congolese nationals at the market.
Police spokesperson, Elizabeth Kanjela confirmed that the situation was however calmed when the Police moved in.
"…We would want to take this opportunity to urge all members of the public to remain calm and collected as this issue is being handled by officials from the two countries. We should also have in mind that there are Zambians based in that country, so such acts do not only amount to breach of law here but also bring to risk the lives of our nationals in that country," Kanjela said.
A Zambian truck driver was on Thursday burnt to death in Congo DR forcing a boarder shut down at Kasumbalesa.
According to sources, a group of Congolese blocked the road at a sloppy area, demanding that the truck allows them to pass as they were going for a burial. And when the truck tried to swerve, it overturned in the process and spilt the cement which was looted by the same people, including suspected Congolese police officers.
"When they looted the cement, the story changed from going to the burial and now they accused him of hitting one mourner and they pushed him back inside the truck and burnt him beyond recognition," said the source.
Vice-President Guy Scott has also promised to engage the Katanga government at a higher level to resolve the matter which threatens trade between the two countries.
And Police have picked two bodies in Misisi and Industrial areas, respectively.
Kanjela said they had picked a body of an unidentified juvenile behind Shoprite near Ngwnya dam.
"Around industrial area, a body of a man identified as John chirwa was discovered with injuries on the head. He used to be a resident of George compound, also a security guard at World Food Programme. The body is lying in UTH mortuary awaiting post-mortem," she said.
And Police have also arrested a 31-year-old man for allegedly murdering his father.
"The suspect has been identified as Frank Ngalande of Muchiliba village Mumbwa district while the deceased is Adamson Ngalande, aged 55 of the same address," said Kanjela.
Labels: BORDER POSTS, DRC, KASUMBALESA, Moses Katumbi
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AfDB chief urges Beitbridge solution
03/05/2012 00:00:00
by Business Reporter
IMPLEMENTATION of a one-stop border post at Beitbridge is “imperative” to reducing trade-restricting transactions costs currently estimated to be as high at $35-million a year, African Development Bank chief economist, Professor Mthuli Ncube argues.
In a paper entitled ‘Border Posts, Checkpoints and Trade in Southern African Development Community (SADC) Countries’, Ncube says chronic delays, congestion and inefficiency at Beitbridge are costly in both time and money.
Waiting times range from 33 hours to 45 hours, while yearly transaction costs are estimate to be between $29.3-million and $35-million.
By implementing a one-stop solution, similar to the one that has already been deployed at the Chirundu crossing between Zambia and Zimbabwe, Ncube believes the flow of commercial goods and services, as well as the movement of people, will improve significantly, helping to facilitate further trade and investment.
At Chirundu, northbound trucks are inspected and cleared by the Zambian authorities, while Zimbabwean officials clear southbound vehicles, reducing the duplication associated with two checks.
Average waiting times have reportedly fallen from around two days to two hours, while those using the fast-track preclearance procedure are now crossing within 15 minutes.
The reduced transaction costs associated with the one-stop solution have stimulated trade, which has increased revenues for Zambia by 30 percent.
Ncube believes the solution should be replicated at Beitbridge, which is one of the busiest border posts within the SADC, with more than 3 500 vehicles and 12 000 people crossing daily during peak periods.
The paper also makes the case for a more generalised roll-out of one-stop border solutions across the region.
Trade liberalisation efforts, Ncube notes, have helped raise trade volume within the SADC from $12.4-billion in 2000 to $34.5-billion in 2010, after peaking at $36-billion in 2008.
However, the large number of border posts and roadblocks along key SADC corridors are costing the region about $48-million a year.
“The customs environment in the regional grouping is characterised by a lack of coordination among the multiple government agencies on both sides of borders,” he said.
“This raises the common challenge of the duplication of procedures at each border, which increases the potential for risk management and fraud.”
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There is also a lack of computerised customs management systems, while such systems are not compatible when they do in fact exist.
The solution, Ncube states, lies in one-stop border posts, whereby people and products make a single stop and pass through simplified and harmonised customs and immigration procedures.
“One-stop border posts do not only facilitate the movement of goods and persons by reducing the bureaucracy and clearance times at the borders, they also enhance trade by reducing the high cost of trading emanating from delays, bribes, and cumbersome procedures at border posts,” he said.
Labels: AfDB, BORDER POSTS
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Zambia Revenue Authority Commision of Inquiry Report out, Cabinet acts on its recommendations
TIME PUBLISHED - Thursday, January 26, 2012, 1:25 pm
Cabinet has directed the reversal of the concession of three borders namely Kasumbalesa, Nakonde, Jimbe, Kipushi, Mwami and Chanida and the reversal of the tax concession offered to Varum Beverages Limited, the promoters of the Pepsi Zambia project.
Finance and national planning Minister Alexander Chikwanda revealed during a press briefing in Lusaka today that Cabinet has deemed it desirable and expedient to reverse fraudulent procurements regarding Zambia Revenue Authority related contracts with Bradwell International, and Cargo Scan.
He says in addition, Cabinet has directed the implementation of other administrative measures incidental to the same as recommended by the Zambia Revenue Authority commission of inquiry.
Mr Chikwanda says Cabinet at its sitting of Wednesday 25th January,2012 accepted without reservations the report on the findings of the Commission of Inquiry into the operations of Zambia Revenue Authority.
He says consequently Cabinet has ordered the termination with immediate effect the Cargo Scan contract on the operations and maintenance of Smith Detection scanners, the Bradwell contract on the operation and maintenance of Nuctech scanners, and that Nuctech be compelled to perform their contractual obligations of installation, operation and maintenance of the eight scanners.
Mr Chikwanda adds that the pre-requisites for the installation and operations of the scanners shall be met by government, and that ZRA assumes ownership of the scanners and work out appropriate measures for loan repayment for the scanners.
The finance minister has also disclosed that Varum Beverages Zambia Limited will have to pay outstanding tax arrears and criminal investigations will be instituted on persons found wanting for unlawful conduct, for granting the company a tax deferment of 5 years.
Mr Chikwanda says the PF government has no scores to settle warning that there will be no sanctuary given to those who have committed crimes against society through fragrant abuse of office and trust which the people of Zambia reposed in them.
Labels: BORDER POSTS, ZAMTEL, ZRA
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New Zambia-DRC post proves effective
Friday, 18 March 2011 00:00
By Fortious Nhambura in Kasumbalesa, Zambia
CONSTRUCTION of a new border post at Kasumbalesa between Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo has significantly reduced the time truck drivers take to ferry goods into central Africa.
The post is
one of the busiest ports into central Africa for trucks from Durban into the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa. It was holding up traffic to the region, thus increasing the cost of transportation of goods.
The upgrading of the border post complements the improvements and the one-stop border concept introduced at Chirundu last year.
Constructed at a cost of US$25 million, the post is equipped with high-tech machinery that automatically records registration numbers, type of cargo and the length of the truck.
Since the post's commissioning early this month, the equipment has reduced the turnaround time for truckers from seven days to three hours maximum.
Hauliers into central Africa from Durban, the region's biggest seaport, pass through Beitbridge, Chirundu and Kasumbalesa into the DRC and the rest of the Comesa region.
Most of the trucks supply Katanga Province in the DRC.
The mineral-rich province is heavily dependent on road transport through Zimbabwe and Zambia for imports and exports.
Zambian Border Construction Company, a joint venture between the government of Zambia and an Israeli company, Baran Borders, built the border post.
Kasumbalesa border post has three entry and two exit lanes on either side and can handle 600 trucks a day.
Truck drivers interviewed said although there were still hitches, the new system had drastically reduced lag time.
"The upgrading of Chirundu and Kasumbalesa border posts has improved the flow of traffic and has reduced time spent on the roads," said Luckmore Muzhingi, a Zimbabwean truck driver delivering fuel to the DRC.
"Imagine, from spending a month on the road to 20 days. This gives us more time to be with our families. You saw that queue of trucks? It used to stretch for four to five kilometres. But it now ranges between 500m and one kilometre."
The new arrangement comes in handy at a time the region is battling to harness the potential of the transport sector on the continent, which the World Bank says is growing at a rate of 10,3 percent a year.
Labels: BORDER POSTS, DRC, KASUMBALESA
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Botswana, Zambia sign customs deal
By Chibaula Silwamba
Wed 16 Feb. 2011, 04:00 CAT
BOTSWANA and Zambia have signed a bilateral agreement on customs administration meant to facilitate fast clearance and movement of goods between the two countries.
In an interview, the Botswana High Commissioner to Zambia Tuelonyana Oliphant said his country was in the process of using electronic features at the Botswana-Zambia borders such as finger printing to fast-track movement. She said the two governments want to end delays in serving customers.
“We have introduced e-passport which has some high security feature to avoid it being forged and abused. I think Zambia is also in the process of starting using e-passport,” High Commissioner Oliphant said.
“There is a delegation from our immigration meeting their Zambian counterparts and are in Livingstone touring the border so that they can share information and experiences on immigration technology at the borders.”
High Commissioner Oliphant said Botswana and Zambia were looking for more donors to finance the construction of the Kazungula bridge.
She said so far, Japan International Corporation Agency and the African Development Bank were interested in funding the Kazungula project.
“We expect that Kazungula, which is going to be a one-stop-border-post, will further enhance movement of goods and services.
We are very hopeful of the implementation of the project,” High Commissioner Oliphant said.
She said feasibility studies of the Kazungula project had just been completed and the two countries were about to meet to review the report and, thereafter, start implementing the project.
“The bridge will also have a railway component. The Kazungula project will promote trade between Botswana and Zambia and enhance social ties. There is no doubt that this project is going to take off,” said High Commissioner Oliphant.
“The political leaders of Zambia and Botswana have a political will to ensure this project takes off.”
Labels: BORDER POSTS, BORDERS, BOTSWANA
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Cross-border traders applaud consignment threshold adjustment
By Sandra Lombe in Livingstone
Sat 13 Nov. 2010, 03:59 CAT
CROSS Border Traders Association (CBTA) says small-scale businesses will quickly graduate into large-scale enterprises following an adjustment in the consignment threshold from US$500 to US$2,000 in next year’s budget.
CBTA chairman general Elliot Kabinda welcomed government’s decision to increase the consignment threshold and projected a further increase in cross-border trade.
“There have been tremendous trade volumes of late, and they keep increasing. We were lobbying for the goods threshold to be increased from US $500 to US $1000 but during the 2011 budget presentation, it was increased to US $2000. Just this makes us smile,” said Kabinda in an interview.
“Our small-scale traders will graduate quickly from small to medium and to large-scale businesspersons. This will also uplift their lives.”
Kabinda said following the launch of the Simplified Trade Regime (STR), there was now an increase in cross-border trade.
“We are doing extremely well even those who were scared of passing through designated places now pass through the immigration. Smuggling has also reduced as before people were scared of the little to pay. Smuggling will be a thing of the past soon,” he said.
And Kabinda said bilateral talks with Zimbabwe on the possible inclusion of other goods on the common list had been scheduled for February next year.
“We will in February next year have bilateral agreements with Zimbabwe to look at the possible inclusion of other goods on the common list which can be traded between Zimbabwe and Zambia,” he said.
Kabinda recently during the Zambia-Zimbabwe STR launch noted that the major concern for traders was the limited number of goods on the common list and appealed to the authorities to review the list to include more goods.
However, Kabinda said there was need for continued sensitisation on the STR so that people did not use ‘shortcuts’ in doing business.
And Kabinda said the completion of works on the Zimba-Livingstone road would enhance business for cross-border traders.
Labels: BORDER POSTS, CBTA, ELLIOT KABINDA
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DBSA’s Kasumbalesa border project gets award
By Chibaula Silwamba
Sun 31 Oct. 2010, 04:00 CAT
THE AfricaInvestor infrastructure projects summit has conferred the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) with the regional project of the year award based on the Kasumbalesa border post project.
According to a statement issued yesterday by Zambian Border Crossing Company Limited (ZipBCC) which is constructing the Kasumbalesa Border Post under Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis, DBSA’s Mike Kagwa and ZipBCC’s Eitan Dvir received the award. The DBSA finances the project.
“The annual AfricaInvest infrastructure summit held from 21st to 22nd October, 2010, is a calendar event and premier business development forum attended by over 200 infrastructure investors, project developers, project sponsors and PPP public private partnership policy makers,” ZipBCC stated. “The Kasumbalesa project is designed based on a unique border model developed by ZipBCC, with the installation of a state of the art IT system, aimed to: reduce border congestion, to fast track all processes and procedures taking place at the border facilities whether by government authorities or any other authorities or private operators active at the regional borders and to improve the interface between border users and border posts.”
ZipBCC stated that improving the border facilities, shortening the time required to clear the border and improving regional trade are the main objectives behind this newly introduced approach.
“ZipBCC’s unique approach is gaining momentum and is now developing into a role model for other border posts operated in entire region,” stated ZipBCC.
Labels: BORDER POSTS, DBSA, ZipBBC
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Katumbi seeks explanation over DRC border post blackout
By Kabanda Chulu and Abigail Chaponda in Kitwe
Tue 14 Sep. 2010, 20:50 CAT
COPPERBELT permanent secretary Villie Lombanya yesterday said the Zambian government was not involved in the recent switching off of electricity at Sakania border post on the DR Congo’s side.
Explaining the presence of DR Congo’s Katanga Province Governor Moise Katumbi in Ndola last week, Lombanya said the standoff that resulted in the closure of the border post was between Frontier Mines and the Congolese government.
“The issue (switching off power) had nothing to do with the Zambian government but it was because of a dispute between First Quantum Minerals-owned Frontier Mines and the DR Congo government which withdrew the mining licence and the mines switched off power at the open-pit, hence affecting surrounding communities including the border post,” said Lombanya.
“Frontier Mines used to buy power from Copperbelt Energy which has a sub-station and transmission lines that side and into the Congo, and when the mines were told to close and leave, they also decided to switch off power, and Katumbi came to see us with a view to helping resolve the issue of which we did and power was restored last Friday.”
And a source at Frontier Mines disclosed that the open-pit had been closed and everyone, including expatriate managers, had started going back to their respective countries.
“People have started going back to their countries, and the situation is bad; the only person to give all the details is the Governor Katumbi,” said the source.
On 1st September 2010, the DR Congo withdrew FQM’s mining licence and ordered the company to stop all mining activities and leave the country, and the titles owned by FQM at Frontier Mines were given to the Congolese government-owned Sodimico Mining.
After the mines closure, FQM chief executive officer Philip Pascall issued a statement, claiming that the DR Congo was retaliating over the FQM’s decision to start the arbitration process regarding its Kolwezi project.
He stated that FQM took the DR Congo government to the International Chamber of Commerce Court of Arbitration after the State, in August 2009, revoked its mining licence for the Kolwezi tailings project (a copper/cobalt project in the Katanga Province), where the company had already spent US $750-million in acquiring and developing the property.
“The withdrawal of the exploitation permit for the Frontier mine is contrary to the DR Congo’s laws and the mining code and FQM will continue to advance its rights through international arbitration with respect to the Kolwezi project and now the Frontier mine and will pursue all other legal remedies available against third parties seeking enrichment through interference with First Quantum's legal rights,” stated Pascall.
Labels: BORDER POSTS, DRC, Moses Katumbi, VILLIE LOMBANYA
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Zim, SA still deadlocked over TTDs
Herald Reporter
Zimbabwean and South African officials have failed to agree on the recently introduced Temporary Travel Document and the matter could now have to be handled by the two countries’ Home Affairs ministers.
Indications are that the disagreement could stem from the security features on the travel document. Zimbabwe introduced TTDs last month to replace the Emergency Travel Documents, which were easy to fake.
However, South African officials at Beitbridge Border Post have refused to accept the new document though other regional countries have seen nothing wrong with it.
Secretary for Home Affairs Mr Melusi Matshiya yesterday told Senate’s Thematic Committee on Peace and Security that talks to reach an agreement with their South African counterparts had collapsed.
"The Department of the Registrar-General advised embassies that we had changed from the ETD to the TTD and the South Africans were the first ones to be notified of the changes.
"All the internationally accepted practices were followed. If the Government recognises that document, then it is an acceptable document.
"You don’t have to subordinate yourselves to others and reveal your security features," he said.
Mr Matshiya added: "As far as I know, the position has not changed. We have talked to the (South African) embassy and this week our officials were at their embassy.
"At this moment, I would recommend that the two (Home Affairs) ministers talk to their South African counterpart because at a technical level it has failed."
The TTD has enhanced security features following an increa-se in the number of forged ETDs.
The rejection has seen South African-bound public transporters refusing to accept bookings from passengers in possession of the new document.
A senior official in Pretoria yesterday reiterated that the impasse was over procedural issues.
South African Ministry of Home Affairs spokesperson Mr Ronnie Mamoepa said: "The TTD was introduced without forewarning. I cannot give you any more information about government-to-government discussions."
Yesterday, Zimbabweans using TTDs were still being turned away at Beitbridge.
Assistant regional immigration officer (southern region) Mr Charles Gwede said: "South African officials have indicated that they are still waiting for feedback from Pretoria.
"We are also waiting for a directive from Harare on how to proceed."
Meanwhile, the principal director in the immigration department, Mr Clement Masango, yesterday said they had started computerising their Harare International Airport, Victoria Falls Airport and Beitbridge Border Post offices to detect fraudulent documents.
Appearing before the Senate Thematic Committee on Peace and Security, Mr Masango said they wanted to spruce up their operations ahead of the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup in South Africa that starts next month.
"I have secured funding to computerise ahead of time for the World Cup tournament and it is being done at Beitbridge, Harare and Victoria Falls.
"Funding allowing, we would have wanted to computerise more stations," he said.
Mr Masango said officials from the department were undergoing training to familiarise themselves with the new equipment.
Labels: BORDER POSTS, VISAS
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Nakonde one-stop border project delights parliamentary committee
By Ketty Zulu in Nakonde
Tue 18 May 2010, 03:30 CAT
The parliamentary committee on budget estimates has expressed happiness over the construction works so far done at the K30.1 billion Nakonde one-stop border project in Northern Province.
Speaking in Nakonde shortly after inspecting the construction works, chairperson for the committee Highvie Hamududu said the committee was impressed with the works done so far.
Hamududu expressed concern over the erratic funding to the project and government’s intentions to suspend the project until next year.
He said the government should find some money to finish the project instead of suspending it, adding that the project once completed would boost revenue collection.
“A lot of money in billions of kwacha is collected at Nakonde border monthly and so suspending the project will not be in the interest of the public who have been inconvenienced and want this project to be completed soon,” said Hamududu.
And revenue collection has increased by over 100 per cent at the Road Traffic and Safety Agency RTSA at Nakonde border following the introduction of new security features on the official receipts.
RTSA executive director Frederick Mwalusaka disclosed this in Nakonde when Hamududu visited the department.
Mwalusaka said the new features on the official receipts made it difficult for some unscrupulous people to forge the receipts.
And Hamududu said the agency at Nakonde was now collecting over K170 billion annually compared to less than K50 billion in 2006 before the new features were introduced.
Labels: BORDER POSTS, NAKONDE
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Nakonde border officials tighten security after Tanzanians riot
By Ketty Zulu in Nakonde
Sun 21 Mar. 2010, 04:20 CAT
SECURITY has been tightened at Nakonde border in Northern Province following the riotous behaviour by some unruly Tanzanian nationals who destroyed three vehicles last week.
The irate Tanzanian vendors rioted after a combined team of council and state police confiscated their merchandise, which they were selling on top of the Tanzania Zambia Railways (TAZARA) tunnel on the Zambia-Tanzania border, forcing the border to temporarily close.
Nakonde district commissioner Billy Silwimba yesterday said police officers had been deployed to man the TAZARA tunnel 24 hours daily and no person would be allowed to carry out any sort of business on top of the tunnel and near the customs yard.
“The government has decided to ban any form of business activity taking place on the place popularly known as the no-man’s land due to the continued riots being caused by the traders from both Tanzania and the Zambian side,” Silwimba said.
He said last week, three vehicles which were awaiting clearance were badly smashed and the operations at the border came to a standstill because of the riot by the traders in the area.
Silwimba said if this kind of behaviour by the traders continued, innocent people could lose their lives.
He called on the people living on the borderline to be peaceful and conduct their businesses from designated areas in an orderly manner.
Silwimba commended the security officers for moving in quickly to quell the situation, which became tense within a short time.
Labels: BORDER POSTS, MARKETEERS, TANZANIA
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Sikongo border post awaits connection to national grid
By Namatama Mundia
Fri 05 Mar. 2010, 04:00 CAT
KALABO district commissioner Matindo Nalishuwa has said Sikongo border post between Zambia and Angola will be connected to the national grid by next month.
In an interview yesterday, Nalishuwa said the project of connecting Sikongo to the national grid had reached an advanced stage and would be completed by the end of April.
“They are now erecting the poles, they are almost half way through because they have covered 56 kilometers from Kalabo and when I spoke to the engineer, I was told that there will be power in Sikongo by next month,” he said.
Nalishuwa said the electrification of Sikongo sub Boma would help bring development to the area.
He said all the schools, hospitals, immigration offices and individual households would benefit from the rural electrification project.
And Nalishuwa said 100 metric tonnes of relief food had been distributed to villagers whose crops were destroyed by floods and animals.
“But due to the nature of the floods, the 100 metric tonnes which was pre-positioned last year was not enough and we are still waiting for more relief food from the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU),” said Nalishuwa.
Labels: BORDER POSTS, ELECTRIFICATION, MATINDO NALISHUWA
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Mugabe urges for more one-stop-border-posts
By Chibaula Silwamba in Chirundu
Mon 07 Dec. 2009, 04:01 CAT
ZIMBABWEAN President Robert Mugabe has appealed to North-South Corridor member states to prioritise the establishment of more one-stop-border-posts (OSBPs) to smoothen trade.
And President Rupiah Banda said the opening of the one-stop-border-post at Chirundu will reduce the cost of doing business, improve the flow of foreign direct investment and increase growth and prosperity in the southern and eastern region. Presidents Banda and Mugabe on Saturday commissioned the first ever OSBP in Africa at Chirundu.
Addressing the gathering, President Mugabe called for more OSBPs to be set up in southern and eastern Africa in order to improve trade and economic development.
“The Chirundu one-stop-border-post is a trade facilitation project in the North-South Corridor,î said President Mugabe.
“The concept is designed to reduce congestion, transit and turnaround time, for both human and motor traffic at the border post, and overall transaction costs. The envisaged efficiencies will reduce costs by integrating functions in a way that enables clients to access a bundle of services simultaneously.”
And President Banda said he was convinced that the OSBP would reduce the cost of doing business by reducing the time people spent at the borders.
He said this would also reduce corruption and HIV and AIDS transmission.
This one-stop-border-post is the first one to be commissioned on the North-South Corridor and is expected to serve as a model for other OSBPs in the region and other parts of Africa. I am happy that this is a clear demonstration of a sense of oneness in our region,î said President Banda.
At the Chirundu OSBP, travellers and transporters from either country would be required to complete immigration and customs formalities on one side of the border only before proceeding with their journey.
Under this arrangement, the country of entry hosts officers carrying out exit procedures so that the entire exit and entry process occurs under one roof.
Labels: BORDER POSTS, MUGABE, RUPIAH BANDA
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(LUSAKATIMES) Long awaited Chirundu one-stop Border post opens
Long awaited Chirundu one-stop Border post opens
President Rupiah Banda and his Zimbabwean counterpart going to launch the Chirundu one stop border post in Chirundu.
Business was brought to a standstill at Chirundu Border post as the much awaited commissioning of the Chirundu one stop Border post, which is reportedly one of the busiest border post in the sub region.
Movement of traffic, human and goods alike, was at stand still as early as 08:00 hours in readiness for the opening of the border post separating Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The one stop border post will definitely ease the movement of the goods and human traffic between the two countries, a development that has been hailed by the two governments.
President Rupiah Banda opened the border on the Zimbabwean side while Zimbabwean counterpart Robert Mugabe did the same on the Zambian side.
Afterwards the duo re – affirmed their countries’ regional intergation with Mr. Banda saying the development has come at a critical phase in his country’s economic relationship with other countries for the benefit of the regional trade.
Mr Banda said the opening of a one stop boarder post OSBP, is a milestone in facilitating effective trade in the COMESA region and beyond.
The president further said the region cannot continue to do business without the complete overhaul of infrastructure and harmonization of the trade polices adding that the North – South corridor would be able to meet the challenges of inter regional trade.
He noted that the one stop Boarder facility was born out of the COMESA council of ministers in 2005 in Kigali , Rwanda were it was recognized that the flow of trade in the north-south corridor could be enhanced by establishing a one stop Border post in the Eastern and Southern African region.
The president stressed that making Chirundu a one stop boarder post will ease congestion and will reduce transit times for traders and transporters adding that this will promote efficient flow of goods resulting in increased trade.
Mr Banda noted that Chirundu’s strategic location of trade between Southern and Eastern Africa and its gate way between two busy regions is ideal as a pilot site for the One Stop Boarder Post OSBP control programme.
He however noted that the boarder will is expected to serve as a model for other one stop boarder posts in the region.
And President Mugabe says the one stop boarder post will lead to the accelerated harmonization of COMESA, SADC and EAC integration programmes.
Mr Mugabe noted that the establishment of a one stop boarder post will stimulate economic activity with improvement of infrastructure and smoothen traffic on both sides .
He appealed for development and cooperation partners to join Zambia and Zimbabwe in the development of Beitbridge into a one stop boarder post to compliment efficiencies at chirundu and trunk North-South routes.
He also appealed to member state in the North – South Corridor to also priorities the establishment of the one stop boarder post to smoothen trade in the region.
And speaking earlier Japanese Ambassador to Zambia Hideto Mitamura said a one stop boarder post is important as it will promote economic development in Africa.
The ambassador noted that this will generate growth and reduce poverty in the region adding that this will accelerate economic development and promote the growth of African countries.
He said the Japanese government is grateful to see the completion of Chirundu one stop boarder adding that it is important for economic development in the region.
The ambassador noted that once a one stop boarder post becomes operational, delays will fall adding that this will reduce costs for businesses and increases their competitiveness by ensuring that products reach faster.
Meanwhile COMESA, Director of infrastructure Development Amos Marawe said the creation of a one border post will limit the duplication of border agency interventions in the region.
Mr Marawe added that the one border post at chirundu is leading forward for creating other single border stops , not only for this regions but for the Africa as a whole .
He noted that the one stop boarder post is making a positive and important contribution to the realization of Africa’s integration ambitions.
Mr Marawe noted the need for the central corridor and the eastern community to to take the lead as the COMESA region has taken the lead to ease aid to trade between countries in the region.
ZANIS
Labels: BORDER POSTS, CHIRUNDU, MUGABE, RUPIAH BANDA
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Congolese attack Zambians at Kasumbalesa border
Written by Mutuna Chanda
Friday, July 31, 2009 3:32:58 PM
CONFUSION reigned at Kasumbalesa border yesterday afternoon when some Congolese nationals attacked the Zambian side following reports that a fellow national had died in detention.
The
Zambia-Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) border was closed after the Congolese attacked Zambian registered vehicles and anyone who seemed Zambian both on the Congolese and Zambian sides.
The Congolese were incensed by reports that one of their fellow nationals who was part of a group that was detained by immigration officers had died in custody in Zambia.
According to an eyewitness who did not want to be named, the Congolese pelted at vehicles damaging some of them and charged at anyone who seemed Zambian on the DRC side and the no-man's-land. The eyewitness said the mob surged towards the Zambian side.
Police officers fired warning shots and teargas canisters to disperse the crowds that were advancing onto the Zambian side.
A transporter, who was caught up in the confusion, said the Congolese, some of whom guard trucks at the border, were upset and were under the impression that Zambians were killing their fellow nationals.
The transporter, who also declined to be named, said there were a number of rumours at the border among the Congolese including information that of the 20 fellow nationals who had been detained in Zambia, 15 had been poisoned in detention.
And a businessman, Patrick Tembo, who operates from the border said immigration officers had abandoned their offices and were helping out police officers in restoring calm on the ground.
But police sources dismissed the reports of a Congolese dying in custody, saying of the 60 that had been detained in July, about 30 were still in detention because they had failed to pay the admission of guilt fine.
When contacted for comment, Chililabombwe District commissioner Timothy Musonda said the situation had come under control.
Musonda said he was by press time at the no-man's land meeting Kasumbalesa mayor.
Ministry of Home Affairs Permanent Secretary Ndiyoyi Mutiti said she had received information about the skirmish earlier in the day and was awaiting a full report.
"I received information about the skirmish but as to Zambians being attacked, that I have not received," said Mutiti.
Labels: BORDER POSTS, DRC, KASUMBALESA, POLICE BRUTALITY
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Auditor General concerned about suspected pilfering at border posts
Monday, June 15, 2009, 14:48
Auditor General Anna Chifungula has said collection of revenue and tax at border posts around the country is undermined by suspected pilfering.
Ms. Chifungula said border points had potential to collect more revenue for government and gave an example of Kazungula border post which enhanced its revenue collection from US $80, 000 to US $500, 000 per month.
She however called on authorities at border posts to improve their record keeping systems which she said were not impressive.
Ms. Chifungula said this when she paid a courtesy call on Southern Province Minister Daniel Munkombwe at his office this morning.
And Ms. Chifungula has expressed disappointment at the state of the Maramba Stadium where K100 million was allegedly spent on rehabilitation works saying there was no evidence that the money was spent to improve the stadium.
She was also dissatisfied with how works at the Maramba Cultural village had been conducted saying it was unfortunate for K1.2 billion to be spent on a structure that was not yet completed even after using three different contractors.
Ms. Chifungula also condemned the idea of introducing mobile clinics especially in rural areas since some newly constructed clinics and houses for medical personnel were still vacant in areas like Lukulu, Sesheke and Kaoma districts.
She said it was unfortunate for government to spend public resources and build clinics which lacked medical facilities with some being managed by unqualified personnel, one year after completion.
Ms. Chifungula called on Zambians to be aware of how public resources are spent and report any mismanagement to relevant authorities instead of waiting for audit reports from her office.
Meanwhile, Southern Province Minister Daniel Munkombwe has said that there is need to make a distinction between corruption and outright theft of resources within the public sector.
Mr. Munkombwe said corruption was increasingly being confused with theft and fraud and stressed the need for a distinction to be made for people to appreciate the consequences of being involved in these vices.
He said it was imperative for the fight against corruption not to have any sacred cows as this would encourage workers to be straightforward and adhere to the right principles.
Mr. Munkombwe commended the Auditor General for the work she had done in exposing corrupt activities and for being exemplary and adequately representing womenfolk in Zambia and Africa in general.
The Auditor General toured Katima Mulilo border post in Shesheke in Western Province, and Kazungula and Victoria Falls Border posts in Southern Province to check on revenue collections.
She also checked various infrastructure built using government funds and has since proceeded to Choma for the same exercise.
ZANIS
Labels: ANNA CHIFUNGULA, AUDITOR GENERAL, BORDER POSTS
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