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Thupeyo Muleya, [email protected]

THE United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in conjunction with the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) and the Competition and Tariff Commission (CTC), has launched a training programme aimed at enhancing trade facilitation at Zimbabwe’s border posts.

This initiative is part of efforts to support the effective implementation of agreements under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The programme, dubbed “Promoting Prosperity Pathways for Women and Youth-led MSMEs within the AfCFTA: Role of Customs Officials in Trade Facilitation,” has so far been conducted at Beitbridge, Kazungula, Victoria Falls and Forbes border posts.

In a statement after training border officials at Forbes Border Post between Zimbabwe and Mozambique last week, the UNDP said the training sessions aim to build the capacity of border officials to address barriers and enhance opportunities for inclusive trade, particularly focusing on women and youth-led micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

“This is the fourth after Beitbridge, Kazungula and Victoria Falls in a series of sessions to capacitate Zimbabwe’s border officials to play their key role in trade facilitation with a particular focus on women and youth-led micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs),” said the UNDP.

“This training brought together key stakeholders from Government, the private sector, various border agencies and development partners to address critical barriers and opportunities for inclusive trade under the AfCFTA.

The training is part of a package of AfCFTA-related interventions, which include training of MSMEs to enable them to maximise the AfCFTA opportunity.

Among other things, the sessions focus on the role of customs officials in trade facilitation and this is in recognition of customs officials as key enablers of trade.

In addition, discussions are centred on capacity building to streamline customs procedures.

This includes training on rules of origin, anti-dumping measures, and the elimination of non-tariff barriers to ensure efficient cross-border trade.

“The session also tackled the particular issues that women and youth often face at border points and ways in which border officials can help address them,” said the UNDP.

“The AfCFTA aims to create a single market of 1,3 billion people with a combined GDP of US$3,4 trillion. This training reinforced Zimbabwe’s commitment to aligning national policies with the AfCFTA framework, fostering economic integration and sustainable development. Discussions highlighted the AfCFTA’s Women and Youth Protocol, which seeks to ensure that women and youth benefit from trade opportunities, while also making provision for informal enterprises to enter into formal economies through tools such as simplified trade regimes.

Money – Image taken from Pixabay

“Empowering women and youth in trade will unlock significant economic potential for Zimbabwe and the broader continent”.

UNDP’s co-ordinator for tax for SDGs in Zimbabwe, Mr Melusi Tshuma said women and youth-led businesses are not just participants, but leaders of Africa’s trade revolution.

He said the programme paves the way for equitable access to markets, finance and technology under the AfCFTA framework.

UNDP national economist, Ms Ethel Bangwayo said: “Customs officials are critical to unlocking the full potential of the AfCFTA.

“Through effective training and streamlined border procedures, we can reduce trade costs and leverage trade, particularly through the AfCFTA, for inclusive growth.”