The Southern African Development Community (SADC) in alliance with the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) convened a workshop in Lilongwe, Malawi on 8th March 2024 to enhance the accuracy of the Time Release Study (TRS) of the Mwanza Border Station.
The Time Release Study was conducted in 2023 to generate reliable data for measuring the efficiency operational procedures of imports and exports of goods at Mwanza Border Station.
In her welcoming remarks, Ms. Wilma Chalulu, Corporate Affairs Manager at MRA appreciated SADC for the technical and financial assistance to measure the actual performance of activities and processes involved in trade facilitation at Mwanza Border Station which adjoins Malawi and Mozambique border stations.
The Malawi Government, through the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI), is implementing reforms aimed at making the country a competitive destination for investment and international trade. The primary interlocutor of these reforms is the National Single Window (NSW) which is an electronic system aimed at easing import, export, and transit regulatory transactions. The NSW will facilitate the operationalisation of the One Stop Border Post Project (OSBP) which is aimed at housing both countries’ agencies in a single facility.
Mr. Cornelius Kakwesa, Deputy Commissioner Customs - Trade Facilitation MRA said Malawi is actively engaging with neighbouring countries to implement the OSBP concept at Mwanza, Mchinji, and Dedza Border Posts.
Furthermore, he articulated that MRA was fully implementing a web-based clearance system in the ASYCUDA World as well as introducing cargo tracking and electronic seal management.
In May 2024, Malawi is scheduled to commence implementation of a pilot Coordinated Border Management (CBM) operating model at Mwanza Border Station, with the objective of assisting border agencies to achieve greater efficiencies in managing trade and travel flows, while complying with all regulations. The number of border agencies will be reduced from 13 to six and a Joint Border Operations Committee (JBOC) has been formed to handle local operational issues and complaints to ensure smooth and efficient clearances.
The SADC Secretariat supported the Mwanza Border Station Time Release Study through the Trade Facilitation Programme which is funded by the European Union.
Mr. Alcides Monteiro, Senior Programme Officer - Customs at the SADC Secretariat, emphasised that the TRS for Mwanza Border Station will go a long way in supporting the SADC Free Trade Area, and the key instruments outlined in the SADC Industrialisation Strategy as guided by the Regionl Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020-2030.
He added that the Mwanza Border Station TRS will assist in identifying bottlenecks and in formulating action plans for improving the trade facilitation value chain.
The Validation workshop provided a platform for key stakeholders that included MRA, MTI, border agencies, regulatory authorities, private sector trade practitioners, transporters, and logistics professionals to exchange knowledge on optimising efficiency in cross-border.
The draft report of the Mwanza Border Station Time Release Study was formally adopted with supplementary recommendations that were crafted during the Validation Workshop.
