Chipata Mayor Sinoya Mwale says the formalization of small scale trade among the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) countries will enable traders in the region to enjoy the benefits of free entry in other members through authorized channels.
Speaking at the launch of a two day sensitization workshop on COMESA Simplified Trade Regime today in Chipata, Mr. Mwale observed that a number of small scale traders were not enjoying the benefits of Free Trade Area (FTA) due to ignorance.
He stated that most people in the region were using unauthorized channels when conducting their trade in order to invade tax even when their goods would not be subject to tax.
“They are not aware about the limits of value on commodities that are subject to duty and prefer to use the crooked routes to evade tax,” he said.
Mr. Mwale said there was need to ensure that people that were engaged in trade were knowledgeable about the law in relation to their operations.
He stated that s Mwami border post in Eastern province was an important point for cross-border trade among Malawi, Mozambique, Congo DR, Botswana, Tanzania and other countries to the north of Zambia.
“People need to understand there are limitations on commodities that are subject to duty,” he said.
And speaking at the same function, COMESA-Africa Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) Consultant, John Chirwa observed that cross-border trade, which is largely unrecorded, accounts for up to 35 per cent of the current value of formal trade.
Mr. Chirwa said that informal trade was not recorded among the products traded within the COMESA region.
He said there was need to educate traders on the COMESA trade protocols and treaties in order to establish trade centers in COMESA countries.
“This will enhance their businesses because they will have a clear understanding of international business and the FTA among COMESA countries which can help maximize their business which may lead to increased employment opportunities and increase the growth of the economy,” he said.
Mr. Chirwa said that the cost of doing business in Zambia was high due to the use of informal channels to conduct business and lack of an institutional voice to represent the traders in the Cross Border Traders Association (CBTA).
Meanwhile, Cross Border Trade Association of Zambia Chairman General, Celeste Mwanakis said Zambia could not benefit from the COMESA Simplified Trade Regime unless people have information pertaining to customs regulations and COMESA trade policies especially on the FTA.
Mr. Mwanakis has since appealed to local authorities to support accord the cross border traders in order to facilitate the smooth running of small scale Cross Border Trade.
ZANIS/HN/KSH/ENDS
these are programs that should be well managed and educated to the people. ZNBC and all local media must also fall in the trend of explaining and jump on the wagon of explaining and interpreting to the Zambian people people in the local languages. I wonder who is attending the meeting.
Zambians need a lot of educating in many areas. The question is are they interested to learn.
The thing is to some people SIDO means forget school and get rich quick.
disappointed by lack of contributions from my fellow zedians,this part is vital in economic growth of zambia ,it shows to me few of us have a vision of a prosporus zambia .we like comenting on lies by MS,HH and RB lets change our mind set zedians.for 1 &2 .kep it up.
Why cant the CBTA of Zambia take this sensitization up to its members so they benefit? Why are they even commenting on what everybody knows ought to be their responsiblity? We need action now
Thankx Boloko, BGT USA. (#3). We need a sensitised populous so the politician can get a run for the vote or tax salaries.
SATA, CLEAN KANYAMA MARKET FIRST, THEN MAYBE YOU CAN WIN!
LT were is my previous comment?
RIGHT LT, I WILL RESERVE MY COMMENTS, YOU HAVE DELETED 2 OF MY CONTRIBUTIONS.
Iwe #7 why complain when you know very well yo comments were rubbish, sis!!
the thing is our own people who work on the same borders are corrupt and like stealing, as a result our mothers have find it very easy to bombasa then telling the truth on declare their good.