Zambia has made a significant advancement towards achieving quicker and more reliable cross-border trade by entering into an agreement to enhance the country’s customs management system. The agreement was finalized between the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and TradeMark Africa (TMA) to facilitate the implementation of the latest ASYCUDAWorld system, which will reduce cargo clearance times, bolster revenue control, and lessen administrative burdens for traders, while simultaneously boosting government revenue.
This 18-month initiative, backed by TMA, aims to modernize ZRA customs operations by enhancing system performance and reliability, with funding provided by the UK Government and execution by UNCTAD. During the signing ceremony, Secretary to the Cabinet, Patrick Kangwa, expressed that Zambia anticipates accelerated economic growth in the upcoming years, fueled by reforms aimed at improving the business environment, enhancing trade, and supporting entrepreneurship. He emphasized that with the ongoing efforts to diversify the economy, growth could exceed 6% annually by 2026.
Mr. Kangwa remarked, “With the expected increase in economic activity and trade, the importance of having an efficient customs management system like ASYCUDA for managing and facilitating increased trade activity cannot be overstated. As trade continues to grow, a robust customs system is fundamental for economic expansion, ensuring that trade proceeds smoothly and efficiently.”
In his comments, ZRA Commissioner General, Dingani Banda, stated that ASYCUDA has become intricately connected with both internal and external systems, leading to greater automation across customs and tax administration. However, the expanded integrations have also added complexity to the system, such as escalating declaration volumes, higher data demands, and the necessity for coordination among multiple agencies, resulting in delays that lead to higher storage expenses and uncertainty, particularly affecting smaller traders.
Mr. Banda stated, “The ASYCUDAWorld stabilization project will thus restore system stability, enhance processing accuracy, strengthen integrations, and improve the performance and reliability of the ASYCUDAWorld platform to facilitate efficient customs operations and timely revenue accounting.”
Meanwhile, UNCTAD Regional Coordinator for Eastern and Southern Africa, Khauhelo Mawana, mentioned that UNCTAD is collaborating with ZRA to optimize and stabilize the ASYCUDAWorld system to alleviate congestion at Zambia’s borders. Mr. Mawana pointed out that the deployment of a UNCTAD specialist at ZRA headquarters has been instrumental in identifying system bottlenecks and key improvement areas.
He added, “The current issues are completely manageable by the ZRA. UNCTAD has provided technical recommendations to ensure the ASYCUDAWorld operates effectively and enables quicker cargo clearance across the borders of the country.”
Hope Situmbeko, TMA’s Southern Africa Regional Director, noted that the initiation of the project is set to produce substantial benefits not just for Zambians but also for the broader region, as the country serves as a trade and logistics hub at the intersection of the Southern African Corridors, including Lobito, Dar es Salaam, Beira, and the North-South Corridors. She indicated that the project’s impact is essential for guaranteeing efficient trade facilitation, enhancing economic competitiveness, and fostering regional integration under COMESA, SADC, and the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Ms. Situmbeko added, “At TradeMark Africa, every enhancement we implement, every moment saved, and every dollar conserved for traders, including youth and women who are often more significantly impacted, translates into real advantages for everyday Zambians. This embodies our mission of ‘Making Trade Work for Africa.’”
Claire Allan, Head of the Economic Development and Growth team at the British High Commission, stated that the upgraded ASYCUDA Single Window will improve the dependability of border operations, decrease clearance times, and enhance coordination across agencies, thereby supporting increased trade efficiency, better trader compliance, and Zambia’s competitiveness in the region.
