Coordinated Border Management Progresses at Zambian Borders
01 August 2012
To remove delays caused by lengthy and uncoordinated physical examinations of goods, border agencies at Nakonde, in northern Zambia, commenced joint physical examination of goods on May 1, 2012. This is expected to significantly reduce the amount of time it takes for the clearance of goods going out of the country.
SATH has been working closely with border agencies at both Kasumbalesa, on the Zambian border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Nakonde, to coordinate border management. Joint Border Committees were established in 2011 and have produced action plans to reduce duplication and ease the flow of goods across the border.
In April, SATH traveled to these border posts, in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry (MCTI), to facilitate the operationalization of the Kasumbalesa and Nakonde Action Plans into attainable activities with specific responsible people, institutions, agency and timelines.
Even though there are a few differences, the two borders face very similar challenges, including understaffing of government agencies, limited resources for operation, low communication among border agencies and uncoordinated physical inspections of goods. The JBC Action Plan identified, among other things, possible areas of assistance by MCTI and SATH, including policy issues to improve operational efficiency, resource needs ranging from office space to office equipment, technical assistance in monitoring border efficiency and training.
Speaking at the planning sessions, Ms. Esnart-Ziane Mwantembe, a policy analyst with MCTI, highlighted the need for JBCs to champion improved efficiency at the border by streamlining border operations and enabling public-private sector partnership. Ms. Mwantembe noted that MCTI was in the process of establishing structures to make the trade operating environment easier. Mr. Godwin Punungwe, Senior Trade Facilitation Advisor with SATH, emphasized the need for immediate inter-agency coordination and collaboration through JBCs to solve the day-to-day operational challenges at the border.
SATH has been working closely with border agencies at both Kasumbalesa, on the Zambian border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Nakonde, to coordinate border management. Joint Border Committees were established in 2011 and have produced action plans to reduce duplication and ease the flow of goods across the border.In April, SATH traveled to these border posts, in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry (MCTI), to facilitate the operationalization of the Kasumbalesa and Nakonde Action Plans into attainable activities with specific responsible people, institutions, agency and timelines.
Even though there are a few differences, the two borders face very similar challenges, including understaffing of government agencies, limited resources for operation, low communication among border agencies and uncoordinated physical inspections of goods. The JBC Action Plan identified, among other things, possible areas of assistance by MCTI and SATH, including policy issues to improve operational efficiency, resource needs ranging from office space to office equipment, technical assistance in monitoring border efficiency and training.
Speaking at the planning sessions, Ms. Esnart-Ziane Mwantembe, a policy analyst with MCTI, highlighted the need for JBCs to champion improved efficiency at the border by streamlining border operations and enabling public-private sector partnership. Ms. Mwantembe noted that MCTI was in the process of establishing structures to make the trade operating environment easier. Mr. Godwin Punungwe, Senior Trade Facilitation Advisor with SATH, emphasized the need for immediate inter-agency coordination and collaboration through JBCs to solve the day-to-day operational challenges at the border.
Activities