By HELEN ZULU –
THE Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS) in collaboration with Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA), has embarked on a single window online clearance system of imports to speed up the inspection process.
ZABS chief executive officer, Manuel Mutale said the single window online clearance system would help enhance efficiency.
Mr Mutale explained that the system would allow officers to effectively share vital information electronically to speed up the clearance and inspection process.
This would also reduce the turnaround time for inspection and clearance of goods to promote economic development in the country.
He said the two institutions had decided to pilot the programme at Chirundu border post as it was one of the busiest points in terms of volumes of products into the country.
Mr Mutale said this in a statement released in Lusaka by ZABS head of marketing and public relations Hazel Zulu.
“It is imperative that we develop and implement strategies that will help in the quick inspection and clearance of goods to avoid congestion, delays and also curb the influx of substandard products,” he said.
Mr Mutale further said 2,183 assorted products were inspected at Chirundu border between January and February this year, with a total of 1,007 used motor vehicles inspected during the same period.
Of the 1,007 vehicles inspected, 682 were issued with road worthiness Certificates, 325 were charged penalties for failure to produce road worthiness certificates and to comply with the Zambian Standard
ZS560 for the inspection and testing of used motor vehicles.
Mr Mutale also said that ZABS was one of the Government agencies working with ZRA to implement the Mineral Value Chain Monitoring Project.
In this project, ZABS would provide laboratory expertise to analyse and monitor the composition of metals being exported by mining companies.
Mr Mutale assured the Zambian public that ZABS would continue to work with other sector regulators such as ZRA to curb the influx of substandard products into the country and to promote economic development.
