The country’s ports of entry have started getting busy following a boom in international trading activities and the increased movement of people who are preparing for this year’s festive season.
There has been an influx of haulage trucks transporting agricultural and commercial products as the summer season sets in, while outbound vehicles are carrying exports from the country, including transit consignment for the northern corridor.
This has since choked the country’s entry points, with authorities battling to deal with the huge rise in traffic coming into the country and that leaving with different consignments.
The huge traffic flow at entry points with an assortment of products dovetails with the Second Republic’s drive to modernise and industrialise the economy to achieve an upper middle income economy by 2030 in line with the National Development Strategy 1.
In a statement yesterday, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority confirmed the sudden rise of economic activity at border posts that has since choked the country’s entry points.
One of the worst affected entry points, said Zimra, is Forbes Border post in Mutare.
“The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) wishes to advise its valued stakeholders that Forbes Border Post is currently experiencing traffic build-up due to a huge surge of outbound and inbound trucks,” said the revenue collector.
“The inbound trucks are mainly transporting agricultural inputs and other commercial products for the festive season, while the outbound trucks are carrying exports from our country and other consignments from countries in the north.
“Due to the short distance between Beira in Mozambique and the Chirundu One Stop Border Post, countries in the north now tend to prefer Forbes Border Post for their exports and imports destined for and from the eastern markets. The current traffic build-up at Forbes Border Post is however, under control and measures have been activated to ensure speedy clearance of outbound and inbound traffic.
“Zimra remains committed to facilitation of trade and travel.”
Zimbabwe is importing some raw materials for fertiliser production such as ammonium gas for ammonium nitrate and sulphuric acid for phosphates in order to support the Government initiated Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme.
This is aimed at increasing plant productivity and development through boosting growth, accelerating maturation, enhancing resistance and improving the quality of fruits and seeds, leading to better harvests and earnings.
The country is also set to benefit from trucks carrying consignments from countries in the north in terms of transit fees, axle overload fees, fuel levy, abnormal fees, bridge toll fees, among others.
There are also other ancillary benefits when the trucks incur costs during their stay in the country, that include fuel consumption, hotel and lodges, among others.
Economic activity is set to rise again during the Christmas and New Year holidays when Zimbabweans in the diaspora trudge back home to be with their families during the festive season. – The Herald
