By Wezzie Gausi
The Parliamentary Committee on Trade has recommended that the Ministry of Trade should regulate the customs profession as there have been many challenges observed in regards to cross-border trading.
This follows a report by the committee on the alleged mistreatment, by some Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) officials, police officers and other agencies, of cross border traders.
Presenting the report to the House, the committee vice chairperson Thoko Tembo said there is a need to support industry, trade and tourism sectors.
He said only agents were regulated by the Customs & Excise Act; however, vendors or middle men were not trained to competently handle cross-border trading matters.
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“There are both professionals and non-professionals at the border station creating challenges Ministry of Trade should decentralise its import and export licence issuing system to the stations in order to speed up trade facilitation, or government could consider establishing a regulatory body under the ministry responsible for issuing licences,” Tembo said.
Minister of Trade Simplex Chithyola Banda said the ministry will look into the request.
He said it is an open secret that most borders in the country have numerous challenges which, by having a law, can be well regulated.
“We have heard what the committee has recommended to us, we will make sure that we act accordingly. I personally know the issues raised are a true reflection of what is on the ground as I was the chairperson of this committee when the inspection was being done,” Banda said.
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Meanwhile, the committee has commended all stakeholders for the efforts they undertake to improve and make cross-border trading easier.
