| Complaint number |
NTB Type
|
Date of incident |
Location |
Reporting country or region (additional) |
Status |
Actions |
|
NTB-000-748 |
2.10. Inadequate or unreasonable customs procedures and charges |
2017-05-03 |
Zambia: Chirundu |
Zambia |
Resolved
2018-01-25 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
There is congestion at Chirundu border as a result of the attached notice which was issued by Zambia Revenue Authority The notice advised Zambian Agents that starting 1 May 2017 no truck shall enter the Zambian scanner without the Zambian bill of entry (stamped or not stamped). Fast lane trucks must not exit the border without having the entry registered.
Below is a report from our team on the ground-
Challenges we have noticed today 09 May 2017 are that,
• It has led to chaos on the Zambian side where some trucks have arrived not registered and have clogged trucks on the queue to the scanner. Some trucks are forced to park until these trucks have been registered because there is nowhere they can move to.
• ZIMRA is not aware and were not prepared for this, although I met the bonds office and had a conversation about this before 1 May they were waiting for an official document from their colleagues which never came until yesterday when ZRA informed ZIMRA that this is the development on the Zambian side.
• Zambian importers/agents who have outstanding issues with customs or waiting for clearance instructions (agent & importer) have affected trucks which arrives while these issues are still pending, therefore trucks for these importers/agents will not be cleared and will block other trucks which were precleared leading to delays.
• Some transporters not preclearing the loads hence leading to chaos at the scanner.
• No parking space before trucks reach the scanner, only 20 trucks are accommodated there thereby leading to a queue/congestion on the Zimbabwean side.
• Transit trucks getting late while on the queue leading to late acquittal issues.
I checked on the queue (Zim side) and noticed that,
• There are 67 trucks queuing from the ZIMRA gate to Shashe area
• The queue is 1.7km long
• At the Zambian scanner trucks which are there are less than 25.
• 95% of trucks on the queue are high risk (those that pass through the scanner). |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
On 25 January 2018, Zambia Focal Point reported that The requirement was now being well managed and the congestion it could have caused had been eliminated. The NTb is therefore resolved. |
|
|
NTB-000-728 |
2.6. Additional taxes and other charges |
2016-11-01 |
Zambia: Kazungula Ferry |
Botswana |
Resolved
2018-01-25 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Importers of beans, ground nuts and sweet potatoes from Zambia into Botswana have complained that they have of late, been charged amount in excess on BWP 1 000 by some Zambian border authority for which receipts are never issued. A number of those complaints have revealed that no receipts were issued to denote what the BWP 1 000 was being paid for. No explanation was also given. These importers have, while in Zambia paid all the charges relating to phytosanitary and other charges for their goods-receipts for such are duly produced.
The additional charge is suspected to be charged without any legal basis from Zambia Government. This additional charge is placing a burden on small traders whose livelihood depends on selling the products in Botswana. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
On 25th January 2018, Zambia reported that no Zambian Border Authority Charges this Fee and without receipt for that matter. Border Agencies suspect this could be a case of false representation of a Government agency. The matter will be passed on to security wings for further interrogation. If additional information could be availed to assist in identifying those involved. This NTB is considered resolved. |
|
|
Products:
|
1202.41: Groundnuts, in shell (excl. seed for sowing, roasted or otherwise cooked) |
|
|
NTB-000-723 |
7.4. Costly procedures |
2016-09-06 |
Zambia: All ports of entry |
South Africa |
Resolved
2018-01-25 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Drivers are experiencing long delays in processing of the maize export permits in Zambia. It takes more than 90 days for permits to be processed by the authorities causing drivers to exceed their 90 day limit in Zambia.Once drivers reach this limit, they are required to buy work permits at a very high cost of $225. This impacts heavily on already small margins. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
Zambia reported that the Ministry of Agriculture through the Department of Agribusiness and Marketing is responsible for facilitating trade through the issuance of Control of Goods Import and Export Permits for Agriculture Commodities. The process of issuance of permits starts and is completed within a period of 24 hours. Maize Grain is an agricultural commodity whose export is subject to the Control of Goods Act. Export Permits, Control of Goods, for maize are processed within 24 hours. Delays previously reported were an isolated incident that may have been caused by externalities at play then. The current status is that Export Permits, Control of Goods, for maize are processed within 24 hours. We propose that this be considered resolved. |
|
|
NTB-000-732 |
5.15. Other |
2017-01-01 |
Zambia: Zambia |
|
Resolved
2018-01-25 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Carbon Tax Increase over 37% for commercial vehicles |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
On 25th January 2018, Zambia Focal Point advised that the measure was for all motor vehicles and the highest percentage of 40% was on motor cycles and small vehicles. 37% on commercial vehicle was among the lowest percentage increases. This measure was intended to adjust the carbon emission surtax for inflation. It had not been adjusted since its introduction in 2006. This is in line with the Customs and Excise Act 47 of 2016. We propose that this be considered resolved |
|
|
NTB-000-789 |
2.10. Inadequate or unreasonable customs procedures and charges |
2017-10-31 |
Zimbabwe: Chirundu |
Zimbabwe |
Resolved
2018-01-22 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
There is a problem on processing of Temporary Import Permits since Zimbabwe Revenue Authority came up with a system of doing more Temporary Import Permits for one vehicle. Transporters are now made to write 3 Temporary Import Permits on one truck. 1 Temporary Import Permit for the horse and 2 for the 2 trailers. Processing the Temporary Import Permits is taking too long , for example, Temporary Import Permits for 93 & 98 which we submitted at 01:20hrs ( 31st October 2017) were not ready by mid morning 1st November 2017. Another Temporary Import Permit submitted at 1900hrs last in the night of 31st was only done at 03:15 hrs in the morning of 1st November 2017 .
ZIMRA is now making the clearing agent do a TIP for every unit of the truck. The truck itself then the trailer as well. In the case of an interlink, that is 3 TIPS. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
On 5 December 2017, Zimbabwe Focal Point confirmed the feedback by Revenue Authority that the client should approach the Station Manager for the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority at Chirundu One Stop Border Post to be guided on the proper forms to use. With this explanation issue should be taken as resolved. |
|
|
Products:
|
8709.19: Works trucks, self-propelled, not fitted with lifting or handling equipment, of the type used in factories, warehouses, dock areas or airports for short distance transport of goods; tractors of the type used on railway station platforms (excl. electrical |
|
|
NTB-000-789 |
2.10. Inadequate or unreasonable customs procedures and charges |
2017-10-31 |
Zimbabwe: Chirundu |
Zimbabwe |
Resolved
2018-01-22 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
There is a problem on processing of Temporary Import Permits since Zimbabwe Revenue Authority came up with a system of doing more Temporary Import Permits for one vehicle. Transporters are now made to write 3 Temporary Import Permits on one truck. 1 Temporary Import Permit for the horse and 2 for the 2 trailers. Processing the Temporary Import Permits is taking too long , for example, Temporary Import Permits for 93 & 98 which we submitted at 01:20hrs ( 31st October 2017) were not ready by mid morning 1st November 2017. Another Temporary Import Permit submitted at 1900hrs last in the night of 31st was only done at 03:15 hrs in the morning of 1st November 2017 .
ZIMRA is now making the clearing agent do a TIP for every unit of the truck. The truck itself then the trailer as well. In the case of an interlink, that is 3 TIPS. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
On 22 January 2018, FESARTA sent email to Focal Point, Zimbabwe advisng that the NTBs had been resolved as per advice from ZIMRA. ZIMRA advised complainant to approach the ZIMRA office at Chirundu for assistance since this was an issue concerning lack of information on how to go about the procedure. The complainant was guided on the proper forms to use. |
|
|
Products:
|
8709.19: Works trucks, self-propelled, not fitted with lifting or handling equipment, of the type used in factories, warehouses, dock areas or airports for short distance transport of goods; tractors of the type used on railway station platforms (excl. electrical |
|
|
NTB-000-710 |
2.14. Other
Policy/Regulatory |
2016-04-01 |
Tanzania: Tanzania Revenue Authority |
Kenya |
Resolved
2017-10-24 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
TRA offices close earlier (3.00 pm) than KRA Office hindering the Verification at Inland Container Deport (ICD) Nairobi |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
The Dedicated Session of Senior Officials meeting held in October, 2017 reported that both countries Kenya and Tanzania have harmonised the working hours. Hence the NTB is resolved. |
|
|
NTB-000-701 |
6.5. Variable levies
Policy/Regulatory |
2015-07-15 |
Tanzania: Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment |
Kenya |
Resolved
2017-10-24 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
United Republic of Tanzania has introduced a railway development levy of 1.5 per cent for imports from Kenya.
Reported in 2015. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
The EAC NTBs Focal Point reported that the NTB had been resolved by the meeting of the Dedicate Session of Senior Officials held in Kampala from 21st - 24th October 2017 |
|
|
NTB-000-700 |
1.4. Preference given to domestic bidders/suppliers
Policy/Regulatory |
2015-07-24 |
Kenya: Ministry of EAC,
P.O. Box 8846-00200, NAIROBI.
Tel: +254 722475368 |
Uganda |
Resolved
2017-10-24 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Kenya was restricting Cable Corporation (Uganda) Ltd from its tendering processes for the supply of electric cable products |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
Kenya confirmed that the tender contained a rider excluding participation by regional companies and that it was a once off event. Kenya acknowledged the mistake and undertook that it will not happen again therefore the NTB should be considered resolved. |
|
|
NTB-000-778 |
5.12. Export restraint arrangements |
2017-05-05 |
Tanzania: Ministry of Industry, Trade and Marketing , |
Uganda |
Resolved
2017-10-24 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Tanzania banned exportation of food items to Uganda hence affecting Intra Regional Trade and endangers food security in the region. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
In the recent meeting on NTBs held in Kampala on 24th October, 2017, Tanzania reported that this was a food security issue in Tanzania and the meeting agreed that it has been resolved. |
|
|
NTB-000-716 |
8.7. Costly Road user charges /fees |
2016-06-30 |
Kenya: Mombasa County |
Burundi |
Resolved
2017-10-24 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Mombasa Country charges transit trucks waiting to load cargo in the parking yard an amount of Ksh 500 per day. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
The NTBs focal Point at the Secretariat reported that this NTB had been resolved by the Dedicated Session of Senior Officials /Permanent Secretaries meeting held in Kampala on how to resolve long standing outstanding NTBs |
|
|
NTB-000-711 |
8.7. Costly Road user charges /fees
Policy/Regulatory |
2016-06-30 |
Kenya: Mombasa County |
Burundi |
Resolved
2017-10-20 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Mombasa County in Kenya charges transit fees of ksh 6,000 for transit cargo truck. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
During the Dedicated Session of the Permanent/ Principal/Under Secretaries of Trade and EAC Affairs meeting held in Kampala to resolve long standing NTBs, Kenya reported that the internal consultations with the County Government of Mombasa had been concluded and the charge has been abolished. |
|
|
NTB-000-715 |
2.6. Additional taxes and other charges
Policy/Regulatory |
2016-06-30 |
Tanzania: Ministry of Envinronment |
Kenya |
Resolved
2016-12-06 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Tanzania authority requires that heat treated wooden pallets be fumigated again at the Border, failure of which they charge penalties. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
At the 22nd EAC NTB Forum held in December 2016, Kenya reported that Tanzania Revenue Authority had lifted the requirement that heat treated wooden pallets be
fumigated again at the Border, failure of which they charge penalties. |
|
|
NTB-000-698 |
2.14. Other
Policy/Regulatory |
2014-07-23 |
|
|
Resolved
2017-05-06 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Border management institutions’ working hours are not harmonized. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
At the 23rd EAC NTBs Forum held from 4- 6 May 2017, Partner States reported that the border operating hours had been harmonised |
|
|
NTB-000-727 |
4. Sanitary & phyto-sanitary (SPS) measures
A53: Fumigation |
2016-12-01 |
Botswana: Kazungula Ferry |
Zambia |
Resolved
2017-05-18 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Botswana border officials demand fumigation certificate for molasses. To my knowledge, foodstuffs like molasses cannot be fumigated and on the Botswana import permits (plant protection), this is not among the requirements. This leads to delays, additional costs (e.g demurrage), possible loss of business and risk of product going bad. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
During the the 15th meeting of the SADC Sub Committee on Trade Facilitation held on 17- 18 May 2017, Botswana reported that Sanitary import permit is required only for molasses meal. No Sanitary or Phytosanitary import permit is required for liquid molasses and molasses powder and therefore no fumigation certificate is needed for molasses. According to the conditions set as per the Sanitary import permit, imported molasses has to be free of protein of animal origin and not contain any prohibited substances such as growth hormones. Officials from Botswana and Zambia have had a bilateral meeting and the issue has been addressed. |
|
|
NTB-000-663 |
8.8. Issues related to transit |
2015-02-19 |
Mozambique: Weighbridge at Matola on the Maputo corridor |
Zimbabwe |
Resolved
2017-05-18 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Zimbabwean truck drivers are now facing police harassment near the weighbridge at Matola on the Maputo corridor. The police are taking Zimbabwe drivers licence and their passports, supposedly to check the authentication of the driver holding the documents. The driver is released in order to go and off load and is briefed that the police will have an answer for him on his return.
On his return driver is told that the licence is a fake and the driver is to pay a spot fine of ZAR5000.00. It appears that the police are rubbing the metal disc with something, so that certain information is now very faded, and not legible. When the driver produces his international drivers’ licence, to confirm the validity that is taken away by police, who only return it after some hours, with the expiry date is now illegible. The ZAR 5000.00 rand fine is enforced. The language is a convenient barrier, as the police claim not to be able to speak English. All fines in Mozambique seem to be ZAR 5000.00.
Drivers are detained for days until they come up with some sort of cash ranging from ZAR400.00 upwards if they are lucky. This problem is more prevalent during weekends.
Please can we have a stop put to this practice? Defacing a Government document I believe is an offence, and should not be tolerated. Business is challenging enough as it is, without trade barriers being further forced upon the transport industry. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
During the meeting of the SADC Sub Committee on Trade Facilitation, Zimbabwe reported that the drivers no longer faced this problem hence the problem is resolved. |
|
|
NTB-000-575 |
8.1. Government Policy and regulations |
2013-03-14 |
Zimbabwe: Beitbridge |
South Africa |
Resolved
2017-06-09 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
This complaint is registered by FESARTA.
The old bridge at Beitbridge cannot be opened to traffic because of an existing agreement between the government of Zimbabwe and a private sector company.
It is accepted that it is an old bridge and that it may not be safe for many heavy trucks using it at one time. However, there is a railway line over it and there does not seem to be any refusal to allow trains to use it.
It could be used by private motorists, so freeing the new bridge for heavy goods.
There seems to be no justification to renew the existing agreement. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
Zimbabwe reported that the two Governments of Zimbabwe and South Africa had agreed that the old Bridge remain closed following commissioning of the new bridge that is functioning properly without congestion. |
|
|
NTB-000-691 |
2.4. Import licensing |
2015-12-11 |
Malawi: Mwami |
Zambia |
Resolved
2017-05-17 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
The Government of the Republic of Malawi has enacted the Control of Goods (Import and Export) (Commerce) (Amendment) Order 2015, a Statutory Instrument placing import restrictions for cement and other products. The effect of this enactment is that cross border traders now require Import License to import the good that are subject to this Statutory Instrument into the Republic of Malawi. Specific reference is made to the strict conditions and instructions for the acquisition of the license being referred to. Products affected include cement, refined cooking oil, laundry soaps, liquor in sachets and fresh milk.
Trucks from the exporter are being denied entry into Malawi and this has resulted in a considerable amount of economic loss for the exporter. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
During the 15th Meeting of SADC Committee on Trade Facilitation, Malawi Focal Point reported that, 'While there were some erroneous issues with regard to the dates of the Statutory Instrument and the complaint itself I wish to report that this complaint was resolved last year at a COMESA Meeting on NTBs. The same was reported to the COMESA Policy organs Meetings in Antananarivo Madagascar in October 2016. It should be noted that the Inter-governmental Committee (COMESA Committee of Permanent Secretaries) and the COMESA Council of Ministers endorsed the fact that this NTB complaint was resolved'.
This NTB is therefore resolved on the basi of COMESA Ministerial decision above. |
|
|
Products:
|
25: Salt; sulphur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement and 34: CHAPTER 34 - SOAP, ORGANIC SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENTS, WASHING PREPARATIONS, LUBRICATING PREPARATIONS, ARTIFICIAL WAXES, PREPARED WAXES, POLISHING OR SCOURING PREPARATIONS, CANDLES AND SIMILAR ARTICLES, MODELLING PASTES, ‘DENTAL WAXES’ AND DENTAL PREPARATIONS |
|
|
NTB-000-690 |
2.4. Import licensing |
2015-12-11 |
Malawi: Mwami |
Zambia |
Resolved
2017-05-17 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
The Republic of Malawi has amended the Control of Goods Act CAP 18:08 to make the order which can be cited as the Control of Goods (Import and Export) (Commerce) Order, 2015 a Statutory Instrument placing import restrictions on products which include cement, refined cooking oil, laundry soaps among other things. The effect of the enactment is that cross border traders now require an Import License to import the goods that are subject to this Statutory Instrument into the Republic of Malawi. This development has had adverse effects on the company that is in the business of exporting and importing various products to and from Malawi. Currently, trucks carrying cement are being denied entry into Malawi and this has resulted in considerable amount of economic loss for the company. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
During the 15th Meeting of SADC Committee on Trade Facilitation, Malawi Focal Point reported that, 'While there were some erroneous issues with regard to the dates of the Statutory Instrument and the complaint itself I wish to report that this complaint was resolved last year at a COMESA Meeting on NTBs. The same was reported to the COMESA Policy organs Meetings in Antananarivo Madagascar in October 2016. It should be noted that the Inter-governmental Committee (COMESA Committee of Permanent Secretaries) and the COMESA Council of Ministers endorsed the fact that this NTB complaint was resolved'.
This NTB is therefore resolved on the basi of COMESA Ministerial decision above. |
|
|
Products:
|
25: Salt; sulphur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement |
|
|
NTB-000-713 |
2.6. Additional taxes and other charges |
2016-06-30 |
Uganda: Busia |
Kenya |
Resolved
2016-12-07 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Exports to DRC are subjected to verifications at Busia border and consignments sealed but an additional charges and verification is done at Busitema where the seal is broken and customer/transporter is charged. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
The NTB was resolved during the 22nd EAC NTBs Forum held in December 2016 |
|
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