The Sunday Mail
Thupeyo Muleya – Beitbridge Bureau
The Attorney-General’s Office has started working on the legal framework for a National Ports Authority that will run all of Zimbabwe’s entry and exit points under the aegis of the Transport and Infrastructural Development Ministry.
In an interview last week, Transport Minister Dr Obert Mpofu said Cabinet had approved establishment of an NPA to oversee all border operations with a view to improving efficiency at ports of entry and exit.
“The Attorney-General’s Office is now drafting the law that will legitimise such an authority and we are very happy with the progress on the ground,” said Dr Mpofu.
The minister said the current status quo at the country’s ports of entry where there is no lead agency to run the affairs was unsustainable.
Some of the statal stakeholders at borders include the Department of Immigration and Zimbabwe Republic Police (Home Affairs Ministry), Zimra (Finance Ministry), the Health Ministry, the Transport Ministry, the Environmental Management Authority and Forestry Commission (Environment Ministry), Veterinary Services (Agriculture Ministry) and other security agents.
In addition, there are several private players like insurance firms and companies concerned with freight, forwarding and related services.
“Some functions and services duplicate each other and we believe there should be a review of operations. The authority will be an independent legislative body dealing specifically with issues regarding the operations at our border and not bogged down by technical issues.
“South Africa has this (single) authority on their side and it makes it easy to deal with some operational and administrative issues,” said Dr Mpofu.
He said the NPA would deal with operational, administrative, security, health and other issues.
Dr Mpofu said his ministry had consulted its South African counterparts on how to expedite operationalisation of Zimbabwe’s NPA.
“The delays and inefficiency in some departments at the country’s ports of entry are a result of lack of monitoring and accountability and with the coming in of the NPA, service delivery is bound to improve,” he added.
Delays at borders, some studies say, cost the country a lot in terms of lost business.
