Zimbabwe January 2005 |
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| Border warehouse established, (Chronicle, 2005-01-10):-Botswana and Zimbabwe business leaders have agreed to set up an office and a warehouse in Botswana's Francistown to facilitate trade between the two countries. The move, mooted late last year and set for implementation soon, is part of efforts by the countries' business sectors to foster a culture of co-operation and strengthen ties. It is also aimed at facilitating smooth business transactions and the cutting of red tape clogging the operations of businesses between the two neighbours. Officials from the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce and the Botswana Confederation of Commerce, Industry and Manpower met last year to kickstart the process. ZNCC Matabeleland Chapter Chairman, Mr Obert Sibanda, led the Zimbabwean delegation while the Botswana business leaders were led by BOCCIM chief executive officer, Mr. Elias Dewah. "We agreed on the need for the two chambers to co-operate and confront the common problems faced by our respective members," Mr Sibanda told Business Chronicle yesterday. He said Zimbabwean businesspeople faced numerous problems when conducting business in Botswana and the fostering of ties with BOCCIM would go a long way in reducing them. Zimbabwe and Botswana businesses will now cooperate in facilitating the fast issuing of trading licences and the setting up of a trade house or warehouse in Francistown. "As ZNCC, we want our members to conduct business in an organised manner. The warehouse will be funded jointly by ZNCC and BOCCIM and both parties have been tasked with identifying sponsors for the project," said Mr Sibanda. Of particular concern to the business leaders in both countries is the manner in which businesspeople are treated at the countries' border posts. "The question is, what can we do to assist our members. What we have done is to ask BOCCIM to assist card carrying ZNCC members carry out their business transactions in Botswana and we are doing likewise," he said. Mr Dewah told the Botswana Press Agency at the weekend that the venture, initiated by the ZNCC Bulawayo branch, was a smart move as Batswana traders would now buy from the warehouse and sell to the public. "At the moment, Zimbabweans and Batswana are competing in the streets for customers, circumstances which are not fair to the local people," he said adding that the warehouse would benefit citizens of both countries. Mr Dewah said the establishment of the warehouse should be given priority to curb illegal trading. ZNCC and BOCCIM last week drafted a memorandum of understanding and will be finalising the document soon. ZNCC has prioritised the project and it features high on its 2005 agenda. The move is also meant to help curb smuggling and illegal trading, rife along the two neighbouring countries' border. Zimbabwe and Botswana are major trading partners. | |
South African Migration Project (SAMP) - Queen's University - http://www.queensu.ca/samp |