Private Observer

 Four Clearing Agents Associations rejected regional customs transit bond guarantee 

Four Clearing Agents Associations have rejected the regional customs transit bond guarantee and condemned COMESA and SADC accusing them of conspiring to push for the implementation of the programme despite knowing that it would lead to job losses and impact negatively on revenue collection.

The four Clearing Agents are the Customs Clearing and Freight Forwarding Agents Association of Zambia, Zambia Customs and Forwarding Agents Association, Zambia Freight Forwarding Agents and the Southern Freight Forwarding Agents of Zambia.

Group Spokesperson, Bruce Kaemba says it is worrying and disheartening that despite knowing the negative repercussions of RCTG on the clearing industry and the economy of Zambia, COMESA and SADC want to use underhand methods to entice government to assent the RCTG programme.

Mr Kaemba has noted that the RCTG would completely destroy the clearing industry in Zambia and render destitution to millions of Zambians who can earn their livelihood through clearing and forwarding business.

He says in the RCTG arrangement, exports from other countries other than Zambia would merely be passing through the country to the final destination and Zambian clearing agents would no longer be required to perform any clearance formalities on the goods whatsoever.