By Kalata News,
Chipata – MOST small scale cross-border traders avoid using the legal channels to cross the border, preferring crossing through what is called ‘zalewa’, says Zambia Border Posts Upgrading Project (ZBPUP) Project Officer Wilson Mazimba.
Opening a second media sensitization workshop in the Eastern Province Capital Chipata, about 550 km East of Lusaka, Mazimba said ignorance of the regional trade agreements and lack of awareness among small scare traders was making them risk their lives and business crossing borders through dangers paths and bushes via zalewa when an agreement already exists that allows traders to cross the border with a set minimum amount of goods and services.
“The objective of the Zambia Border Upgrading Project is to catalyze Zambia’s progressive participation in the COMESA and other regional integration processes so as to ameliorate poverty and inequality,” said Mazimba.
Twenty-seven journalists drawn from various major local and national media based in Lusaka and Chipata attended the second awareness training. The first media sensitization meeting was held in Lusaka in March, 2022 and was attended by about 18 journalists.
The ZBPUP is funded under the European Union (EU)-Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) 11th European Development Fund (EDF) Programme grant to support trade facilitation programmes specifically upgrading soft border infrastructure at three target border posts, namely; Chirundu, Mwami and Nakonde one stop border posts (OSBPs).
Mazimba informed the journalists gathered in Chipata that sub delegation agreement for establishing the Border Upgrading Project were signed on 23rd November, 2020. However, implementation of activities started in earnest in November 2021 after the short term experts were recruited. The Project is a Euros 6.8 Million.
A needs assessment of the existing border posts revealed that there were inadequate signage at the Borders and that there was lack of office space for several border agencies. Other challenges included lack of internet connection and access to the Single Window for several border Agencies, long dwell times at the borders, lack of simplified, standardized and Harmonized processes and lack of Harmonized operating hours.
“Various Border Agencies and PS were trained in various subjects covering; change management Training, Application of SOPs, Food Safety Issues, SPS and TBT, Trade Facilitation Agreements (TFA) and COMESA Trade and Transport Facilitation” Mazimba explained.
Journalists covering issues of regional integration, border controls, commerce and trade informed the ZBPUP project team that in as much as they wanted to cover the activities of the Project, they were constrained in getting timely and adequate information from within the project and the project partners.
“Trade or border issues are a specialist subject that require that journalists be from time to time provided awareness training so they understand the technical language used when communicating project events and results,” the media participants reported.
Other challenges faced by the media included lack of adequate information given to journalists on issues of trade by the project partnership, delayed responses to queries (Journalists need quick response) and lack of experts available to attend media interviews or respond to media questions.
Journalists also were not provided with key support materials (sound bite, videos, pictures) for them to produce a newsroom accepted story.
“If we can have our stories peer reviewed before we publish and also receive stipends or fellowships to enable us visit the border or trade areas for us to produce human interest stories, the amount of coverage on these border or trade issues will increase,” the media reported.
According to Project documents, the delayed activities would require more time for the Project to be fully implemented so the impact of the project could be felt by the small scale traders, women and the youths.
The 4-day media sensitization workshop will run from Tuesday December 12 to Friday December 15, 2023.
