Local and regional traders using the Tanzania–Burundi border post will no longer spend much time crossing when the two countries start, under pilot basis implementation, the One Stop Border Post (OSBP) in Kabanga-Tanzania and Kobero—Burundi.

Under the OSBP, services will be harmonised with incoming traffic jointly cleared by officers from both countries from one side of the border and vice-versa. The move is also expected to ease the movement of people.

Speaking to the ‘Daily News’ at the ongoing 38th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF), the Head of Government Communication Unit in the Ministry of East Africa Cooperation, Ms Vedastina Justinian said other posts are also set to be in operation.

She observed that the move was a means of addressing the issue of trade barriers and facilitating free movement of people as stipulated in the East African Community (EAC) treaty.

“It will benefit EAC in trade facilitation with less border procedures and faster clearance by better border facilities for trucks and travellers from both countries,” she pointed out.

One of the challenges facing regional traders is the issue of delays at border posts because government agencies work autonomously, hence the need for harmonisation of their operations.

Some of the state agencies to be based at border posts, according to Ms Justinian, are immigration, revenue authorities, the police and bureau of standards` among others.

“OSBP project aims at providing services at the borders in order to simplify the customs procedures, immigration, management and quality of commodities and services, as well as the peace and security at the border,” she remarked.

It was further noted that the construction of these posts (OSBP) at the borders will help in rapid transports by avoiding the unnecessary bureaucracy at the border places and, in turn, it will reduce the transportation costs for all EAC citizens.

As the EAC member states are heading towards the political federation and use of one currency, having a one stop post for facilitating border movement and transactions is a vital step towards attainment of the EAC goals which will improve the EAC economically, politically, socially and technological development.

Source: Daily News

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