BUUMBA CHIMBULU writes
TRAFFIC at the Chirundu One Stop Border Post has improved following the 24 hours operation with over 600 trucks cleared on a daily basis by the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA).
The ZRA recently started operating the border 24/7 to clear traffic which had built up due to Covid-19 as officer were ensuring that all transporters were thoroughly screened before entering the country.
Covid-19 screening ended up creating traffic at Chirundu border and we saw traffic that was from our border going into Zimbabwe of about 16 to18 kilometres, says ZRA Corporate Communications Manager, Topsy Sikalinda.
Mr Sikalinda said recently in Chirundu that it was therefore important that ZRA improved its trade facilitation measures.
“We decided to start operating the border 24/7 so since we announced that we started operating the border 27/7, we have been able to now clear over 600 trucks into Zambia on a daily basis and this has helped us reduce the traffic and clear all the queues that were waiting outside,” he said.
During the lockdown period, Mr Sikalinda said, ZRA was only able to clear roughly about 100 trucks and 300 trucks on a normal day before Covid-19.
Mr Sikalinda said ZRA had doubled the number of trucks cleared on a daily basis as the border was operating day and night.
“As a result now, we can safely say that we no longer have the traffic jam at the border and all is smooth and running well,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Sikalinda said ZRA would within this month destroy 200,000 ordinary bulbs worth K225, 448.12 which were seized at the border post.
“As ZRA we will ensure that if anyone tries to import these bulbs, we immediately seize them. We do not allow such products to be brought into the country and this is one of the consignment that we seized some time back.
“If you know anyone selling this product out there in the market, please inform the ZRA or any other relevant authorities they will move in and seize the product to ensure that we are all energy efficient,” he said.
