Non-Tariff Barriers

Complaint

Complaint number

NTB-000-750  

NTB Type

8.8. Issues related to transit  

Complaint

There are approximately 600 hundreds trucks ferrying "mukula" logs legally from DRCongo. The loads had genuine documents from Congo and the trucks were checked at kasumbalesa border upon entry to Zambian soil.
We understand that Zambia banned mukula harvesting within its territories but the activity is not banned in Congo. it is unfortunate that the trucks from Tanzania underwent the legal custom check at the border only to be impounded through an impromptu statutory instrument. The drivers and their drivers have been living under deplorable condition with their employing companies not only going through loss by way of their trucks staying idle but also through regular upkeep of their employees.

It also unfortunate that after impounding the said trucks, the relevant authorities in Zambian kept quiet. No meaningful willingness to resolve the issue has been portrayed by the relevant authorities in question. Going by SADC protocol on transit/transportation protocol there is evidence of breach/contravention of the same.

We wish to see a quick resolution of the matter to mitigate the pangs of the losses companies are making and hence the respective governments from which the same operates under.

We do need each other and we'll always need each other owing the same to globalization.  

Status note

On 25 January 2018, Zambia Focal Point reported that all 600 trucks had been released. The last 15 were released in September 2017. Attached is the statutory instrument prohibiting the exportation of certain forestry products. Therefore, this NTB should was resolved.  

Progress update note

On 19th September 2017, SADC Secretariat reported that the delegation of Zambia informed the joint meeting of the SADC Sub-Committees on Trade Facilitation and on Customs Cooperation held on 19-20 September 2017 that the concerned Member States had met at a bilateral level and that an update would be provided.

Focal Points for DRC, Tanzania and Zambia were requested to provide an update  

Policy or regulatory NTB

No 

Location

Zambia: On the road (Road block)  

Reporting Country or Region

Zambia  

Country specific trade issue

No  

Date of incident

2017-03-01  

Status

Resolved  

Date of resolution

2018-01-25  

Product Description

Wood

Computer-assisted translation

• English
• Arabic
• French
• Portuguese

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Total value

0  

Date reported

2017-06-05 17:32  

Modified

2018-02-08 23:22