Login

Register




Building capacity to help Africa trade better

Women in business complain about red tape in EA borders

News

Women in business complain about red tape in EA borders

Women in business complain about red tape in EA borders
Photo Credit: Kigali Connect

Concrete steps should be taken by the government and the Tanzania Women’s Chamber of Commerce (TWCC)  to reduce red tape at Tanzania’s borders and enhance women’s cross border trade.

The TWCC facilitator, Ndemanyiswa Mbise, said this in her research findings on women entrepreneurs engaged in cross border trade across five borders: Rusumo, Mutukula, Sirari, Namanga and Kabanga.
 
Women engaged in the trade face various problems, including gender unfriendly inspection and unnecessary delay by customs officials that make them lose some of their goods. She conducted the research in December 2012 with support from the United Nations. According to Mbise, the problems have led to women entrepreneurs using unofficial routes in order to avoid harassment at the borders. She said some women use what are popularly called ‘panya routes’ to avoid border requirements like passports, check points, high custom duties and impounding of their goods.
 
“There is need to help these women not only get all required documents but also reduce some complications at the borders to enable smooth travel…this will make them benefit from what their businesses,” she said.
 
Pointing out that sometimes they are forced to give bribes to border officials, she explained that lack of education also contributes to this habit. She said once educated on the importance of having travelling documents, including passports, they would be crossing the borders freely. However, Mbise noted that some officials at the borders were unaware of the East Africa Community Common Market Protocol and cross border rules as well as regulations. She said most interviewees complained that charging fees on the Certificate of Origin was an additional cost to them.
 
On lack of transparency and non-compliance of various regulations, procedures and rules, Mbise said this will perpetuate lack of trust between officials and women.
 
As for sales revenue earned by the women trading in the EAC, she said the study indicated that the women  earned profits of about 700,000/- per month for a woman conducting business in Arusha. However, one woman in Moshi said she can sell goods worth up to 12m/- per month while one in Bukoba can earn 300,000/- monthly. Mbise also explained about knowledge on policies and regulations for cross border trade by women and officials. 
 
She said the survey revealed that most cross border traders and some government officials who serve them did not have knowledge on policies/laws and regulations for crossing the borders or the EAC Customs Union Protocols. She said out of 188 women, 168 (89%) admitted not to have any knowledge, while only 20 (11%) confirmed to know the regulations and the protocol. However, she hastened to say, they could not describe the contents in detail. 
 
Out of 53 interviewed Government officials, 25 or 47% had no education on the EAC protocol, policies and regulations for border trade. Only 28 or 53% were aware of them, although they could not show copies of the documents, according to the survey. 

Contact

Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Tel +27 21 880 2010