16 Jul 2013

Parliament has adopted the One Stop Border Posts’ Bill, 2012 which among other things, seeks to create a conducive environment for trade and investment in Southern Africa.

Commenting on the bill, which was in its second reading on July 12, some Members of Parliament agreed that the bill, which will provide the legal framework for the operation of border posts of two partner states under one roof, would become more efficient as customs and immigration checks, would be conducted in a common control zone that would eliminate the current practice that involved checks on both sides of a border between two partner states.

Tati West MP, Mr Charles Tibone said the legislation would be good for foreign direct investment and trade laws in that it would improve efficiency in the movement of people.

Mr Tibone said Africa was notorious for being inefficient in areas of this nature therefore if Botswana and other countries in the region were to demonstrate that they could manage such facilities, this would augur well for the future and for investment.

“Those of us who have had the opportunity to travel to countries in the EU will be able to testify that you really marvel at how they are able to move massive numbers of people in a very short time and it is my hope that that could also happen here,” he said.

MP for Kweneng East, Mr Moeng Pheto said the legislation was a welcome development in that given the number of important formalities that take place at border posts, it will enable transactions to happen as effectively and efficiently as possible.

Mr Isaac Mabiletsa, MP for Kgatleng East also gave the Bill the green light, saying that most of Africa’s raw materials are not only used locally but are exported and processed overseas and this made it necessary to have a one stop border post to help facilitate such exports.

Mr Mabiletsa also said the status quo was disadvantaging local companies in that foreign investors are reluctant to come and set up businesses or trade in Botswana due the hassles they go through when trading with different countries.

“But if a Bill like this is introduced to monitor people’s movement and the movement of goods from one country to the other, it is a welcome development and I support it fully,” he said.

Another legislator, MP Botsalo Ntuane of Gaborone West South said there was need to change people’s mindset.

Mr Ntuane noted that due to governments being overprotective of their physical borders, economies have been negatively affected adding that  there was no need to pilot the project since it is already in place in other countries.

The MP for South East South, Mr Odirile Motlhale said there was also a strong need to enhance awareness among other policy makers, one such being the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs since the ministry was responsible for border posts.

Presenting the ‘One Stop Border Posts’ Bill before Parliament, Minister of Finance and Development Planning Mr Kenneth Matambo said such a facility encourages trade as people and goods exit one country and enter another through a single facility, staffed and operated jointly by officials of the adjoining countries. ENDS