SADC calls for one-stop border controls

The SADC Parliamentary Forum’s standing committee on trade, industry, finance & investment has called for the harmonisation of cross-border trade systems to reduce ‘trade costs and time spent at borders’. City Press reports that this echoed calls that were made by the SA and Zimbabwean Governments earlier this year after thousands of people and vehicles were stuck at the Beitbridge border post for days following the Christmas and New Year holidays. ‘The model of the one-stop border post, birthed around the year 2000, is one of the modern approaches to improving border operations and trade infrastructure,’ said Zimbabwean MP Anele Ndebele. She added that this ‘facilitation tool’ was envisaged to promote a co-ordinated and integrated approach to facilitating trade in goods and services, facilitating the movement of people and improving security. The SADC forum also saw committee members receive submissions from the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority and the Southern African Cross Border Traders Association.