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State to build one-stop border posts

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State to build one-stop border posts

State to build one-stop border posts
Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda. Photo credit: Zambia Reports

Government will soon construct one-stop border posts at Victoria, Kazungula and Katima Mulilo border posts in Southern and Western provinces to enhance revenue collection in the country, Minister of Finance Alexander Chikwanda says.

Mr Chikwanda said the move by the government will also help to ease congestion and reduce transit times for traders and transporters as well as promote efficient flow of goods resulting in increased trade.

The minister said this in parliament yesterday in response to a question from Katombola Member of Parliament (MP) Derick Livune (UPND), who wanted to know how much money the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) collected from Victoria Falls, Kazungula, Katima Mulilo and Chirundu border posts in 2012.

“We are happy with the revenue collections coming from Chirundu,  for instance in 2012 alone, over K2 trillion was collected because of the one stop border post and this is the concept that we want to replicate at Victoria Falls, Kazungula and Katima Mulilo so that we can enhance our revue collection,” Mr Chikwanda said.

He said the one-stop border posts will ease the movement of the goods and human traffic between Zambia and other countries in the region.

Mr Chikwanda said the need to construct one-stop border posts has come at a critical phase when Zambia is in a hurry to facilitate effective trade in the region and beyond.

He said Zambia cannot continue to do business without the complete overhaul of infrastructure and harmonisation of trade policies.

Mr Chikwanda said government is also happy that Chirundu border post has served as a model for other one stop border posts in the region.

He said the establishment of a one stop border posts at the three border posts will stimulate economic activity and smoothen traffic on both sides.

Meanwhile, deputy minister of Agriculture and Livestock Greyford Moonde said his ministry has received a grant of US$115 million from the World Bank to support the implementation of the irrigation development support project in the country.

Mr Moonde said the grant will help farmers acquire productive equipment and assets as well as stimulate the establishment of micro-enterprise in and around irrigation schemes.

And deputy minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications Mwimba Malama said government will soon expand the Great East Road from Kabwe roundabout to Airport roundabout from a four lane to a six-lane road.

Mr Malama said the Road Development Agency (RDA) is currently carrying out feasibility studies and will come up with a detailed design that will facilitate the commencement of the expansion exercise.

And Mr Chikwanda has commended the British government for its continued support to Zambia’s economic growth.

Speaking when visiting UK Secretary of State for International Development Justine Greening paid a courtesy call on him yesterday, Mr Chikwanda said the UK has been of great support since Zambia independence 50 years ago.

He said Britain’s allocation of 250 million Pounds to Zambia between 2011 and 2015 has been very useful as it has covered all sectors of the economy and that it has also helped government to plan.

“The aid covers health, education, good governance, and budget support among others. As for good governance and education, they are essential for any development of the country,” Mr Chikwanda said.

He also described the country’s bilateral relation with Britain as smooth.

“We have had very few hitches since Britain handed over independence to Zambia. We have worked together to resolve some of the problems in our neighborhood, we have interacted very closely and worked together to overcome all the hindrances that were in the way of our neighboring country Zimbabwe getting their independence,” Mr Chikwanda said.

He however pleaded with the British government to support other countries in Southern Africa like Zimbabwe over its economic brink.

“Our economies in Southern Africa are inter-linked. If there is a problem with one neighboring country, they tend to spread over into other countries,” Mr Chikwanda said.

Ms Greening said Britain will continue to work with Zambia.

She committed Britain’s continued to help Zambia in the education and health sectors.

Meanwhile, the British Government and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) have signed a 3 million Pounds memorandum of understanding (MoU) on improving the policy on climate change.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, COMESA Secretary General Sindiso Ngwenya thanked the British government for its support to various projects.

Ms Greening said the UK is keen to unlock COMESA’s great potential in economic development.

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