CAPE TOWN: Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s state visit to South Africa last month, the countries’ customs administrations signed a mutual assistance agreement that will be in place for the next five years.
Close to 45% of imports into Zimbabwe originate from SA, so will this expedite or slow down the arrival of goods on Zimbabwean supermarket shelves. As is typical with agreements of this nature that SA has also concluded with other countries both countries agreed to provide each other with mutual assistance to ensure that their customs laws were properly observed; to prevent, investigate and combat customs offences; and to deliver documents to each other to ensure proper application of customs laws.
In serious cases that could involve substantial damage to the economy, public health and public security, either of the customs administrations could supply the information on their own initiative. There is provision for the establishment of a joint, one-stop or juxtaposed border post. If operated efficiently this should speed up the clearance process to ensure faster movement of goods from SA to Zimbabwe.
