ZIMRA Finds A Way To Deal With Fuel Dealers

The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) has adopted the Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS) which tracks fuel tankers to their indicated destinations in a way to minimise cases of fuel diversion into the black market.

Zimra Commissioner-General Ms. Faith Mazani said that she was confident that the cargo tracking system would reduce the cost of doing business and promote trade. Speaking during the official launch of the tracking system on Friday, Mazani said:

Fuel withdrawal from NOIC, Msasa Depot purported to be for export reduced greatly after the introduction of electronic sealing. Before the introduction of the system in 2016, 2 320 trucks withdrew fuel for export, but the figure reduced to 942 in 2017 and further went down to 162 in 2018.

ECTS has yielded positive results, which have been felt in the market, notably the four trucks intercepted at Chirundu Boarder Post after it was discovered that they had tampered with the seals and replaced the fuel they were carrying with water. The trucks were seized and the offender was persecuted.

Comm-Gen Mazani added that fuel importations through the Kazungula Border Post which had reached alarming levels abruptly stopped when the electronic system was extended to that frontier.

She added that the system also saves clearance time for the trucks. Mazani added:

Electronically sealed trucks are no longer being subjected to physical examination and scanning, thereby improving the turnaround times of movement of cargo, facilitating trade and reducing the manpower needed for inspection.

More: The Herald