CROSS-BORDER traders between Tanzania and Kenya sigh with relief as crossing the border at Holili and Taveta posts has been simplified after opening of One Stop Border Post (OSBP) arrangement.

Though trade volume has not yet increased since the OSBP facilities at the two border posts began operation four weeks ago, the volume is expected to pick up with the onset of the harvest season in northern highland regions of Tanzania and completion of construction of a 110 kilometres Voi-Taveta Road which links Kenya to northern Tanzania.

According to TradeMark Africa Programme Officer, Daniel Muturi, the Holili/Taveta OSBP is expected to reach its optimal operational capacity once the upgrading of the road is completed in 2017.

The road is part of the Mombasa – Voi – Taveta – Arusha road which is one of the alternative transport corridors in the East African Community region, linking the Northern Corridor at Voi, 160 kilometres East of Mombasa, to the Central Corridor at Dodoma and Singida via Arusha.

“Trade volume is generally the same because of the (Voi-Taveta) road. What has increased is the speed in border clearance.

The road is the major challenge,” the TMA official told reporters from Tanzania and Kenya who toured the border posts last week.

The Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) Officer in Charge for Holili border post, Aden Mwakalobo agrees that the business volume has not picked up much since the OSBP opening but says it would grow after the harvesting season. The project began operations during low business season.

We expect it to pick up from July when the harvesting season begins,” he said. Maize is a major Tanzania’s export to Kenya through the two border posts. Other are some pharmaceutical products and toiletries.

The TRA official said border agencies were striving to cope with the new arrangement that is expected to ease cargo and passenger clearance at the border crossing but under staffing was a major challenge. He said authorities were working to address the problem by deploying more staff and plans were afoot for round-the-clock cargo clearance.

For the time being private vehicles are cleared in 24 hours but cargo are handled for 12 hours. “Increasing the time for cargo clearance to 24 hours is in our plans.

The working hours will be reviewed so that we begin to work around the clock,” he said. In his overview of the OSBP project, TMA official said the one stop border post operation at the Holili and Taveta border posts will lead to a reduction in the total average time it takes to clear cargo at the border post by 30 per cent, which will in turn contribute to reducing transport costs and increase in intra-regional and foreign trade in the East Africa.

The reduction of time will be made possible through improved efficiency of customs services and other government agencies by avoiding unnecessary duplication of clearance procedures. Border crossing delays increase burden and expenses incurred by traders which are transferred to consumers.

Mr Muturi said according to a Baseline study of 2011 it takes an average of 27 hours to clear a cargo truck from Kenya at the Taveta border post.

The one stop border post project would help to reduce the time to 19 hours. The same study showed it takes 6 hours and 40 minutes to clear a truck from Tanzania at the Holili post. Under the project, the time will be reduced to four hours. The big difference in clearance time is explained by trade patterns.

Trade volume from Kenya to Tanzania is bigger than that from Tanzania to Kenya. One Stop Border Post (OSBP) arrangement aims at eliminating the daily border crossing nightmare with a sleek and efficient system embracing all border procedures, such as customs, immigration and vehicular clearance.

Under the model, traffic crossing the border need only to stop at one border post where all border agencies are brought together under one roof for improved efficiency through streamlined, coordinated and harmonised operations.

Trucks from Kenya bypass the border post facility in the Kenyan side and go to the one in Tanzania’s side to clear exit and entry procedures.

The same applies to trucks from Tanzania which bypass the facility at the Tanzania’s side and clear exit and entry arrangements on the Kenyan side. Holili and Taveta border posts are part of 13 facilities constructed by TradeMark Africa.

The multi-donor funded organisation also support operationalisation of 15 OSBP in East Africa.

Source: Daily News

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of TradeMark Africa.