Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) commissioner Sam Shivute on Monday voiced concerns about the pace at which critically important programmes are being implemented throughout Africa. He observed that the implementation speed is not keeping up with socioeconomic difficulties nations are confronting. 

“We are facing many socio-economic challenges and those challenges can only be sort out if we ensure that trade volume has been increased, if we ensure that there are no leakages of revenue, and if we ensure that it’s not only about talking and promising, but really executing,” said Shivute at the opening of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Regional Customs Transit Guarantee (RCTG) consultative workshop. 

The three-day workshop aimed at key stakeholders is taking place in Windhoek. The RCTG scheme facilitates the process for transporters, allowing them to secure a single guarantee that covers the entire journey for consignments in transit. The RCTG workshop is focussing on conducting awareness to prepare for the pilot, domestication, and implementation of the system in Southern Africa. Shivute noted Namibia is open on implementing all customer digitisation programmes aimed at ensuring trade facilitation. 

“We need to understand that we need to think bigger from a national and continental context knowing very well that if this programme is properly implemented, not only does it benefit SADC, but is preparation for Namibia for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),” said the NamRA commissioner. He added the digitisation programme is of crucial importance to the country.

Shivute clarified the initiative ties in very well with NamRA’s mandate of facilitating only legitimate trade.

“There is a requirement from our Act for us to facilitate legitimate trade. We are not here to facilitate illegal trade. We are not here to facilitate trade where there are counterfeits of medication and illicit drugs and so on,” said Shivute.-mndjavera@nepc.com.na