04 Mar 2020

 Kasane based agricultural economist in the Ministry of Agriculture Development and Food Security, Mr Isiah Moronga has warned that import and export permits are not transferable nor sold.

In addition, he said they shall not be used to the benefit of any other person not named in the permit without prior written approval of the minister. 

Presenting on application processes for the import and export of grains, cereals and pulses at a workshop on regulations and processes of agricultural products organised by department of agriculture in Kasane Tuesday, he said any person who failed to comply with the provisions of the regulations was committing an offence. 

He said any person convicted of contravening the provisions shall be liable, if he/she is a first offender, to a fine not exceeding P200 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or both. 

For second or subsequent offences, the offender is liable to a fine not exceeding P400 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months. 

Mr Moronga explained that for one to have an import or export permit, they are required, if it is a company, to have a valid license, a letter authorising them to apply for the permit on behalf of the company, and a valid identity card (Omang) for citizens or passport for non-citizens. 

For a hawker, he explained, they need a valid hawker’s license in product line with the permit as well as a Omang. 

Mr Moronga further stated that farmers were required to produce a letter of confirmation from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security or Department of Veterinary Services as well as a valid Omang. 

For individuals, importation of not more than 25kg does not require a permit. 

Products that require an import or export permit include maize, maize products, pulses, sorghum, sorghum products, groundnuts, sunflower, millet and millet products. 

Mr Moronga said the permit is valid for 30 days and can be used for multiple consignments as long as the stipulated quantity is not exhausted. 

The objective of the workshop was to equip participants with knowledge and skills on imports and exports procedures in order to improve compliance to export and import regulations. 

Other objectives, Kasane district agricultural coordinator, Ms Sweng Manne said included imparting knowledge on import and export regulations and processes, improving compliance to import and export requirements of agricultural products as well as increasing autonomy and networking.

She said the department would also organise another workshop for street hawkers because they are at the mercy of the law.

Ms Manne added that hawkers in actual sense were not allowed to import agricultural products because they do not have the right importation logistics. 

She said the ministry had been lenient for a long time and it was high time things were done according to the law.

She explained that from now onwards, no unpackaged goods which do not meet international standards would be allowed to enter the country.

She said exotic fruits such as mogorawgorwane and sweetbriers shall not be allowed into Botswana if they have not been documented or authorised from their countries of origin. 

“No person shall import any plant or plant bye products without the required permit. 

We have been lenient in exotic fruits because maybe we thought they do not impose any risk to our country,” she added.

Meanwhile, an official of BURS at Kazungula Border Post, Ms Oratile Kakambi told the participants that BURS was experiencing a lot of challenges at the border gate, which included, but are not limited to;  growing importation of restricted agricultural products coupled with inconsistent information given to BURS officials.  

She further stated that customers were delayed at the border on weekends because BURS staff do not work on weekends, which ends up with customer goods being destroyed by wild animals such as elephants. 

She said some customers arrive late at the border and expect assistance from BURS without clearance from agriculture officers, who knock off at 6pm and suggested that agriculture officers should work in tandem with the BURS officers to avoid such anomalies.  

Ms Kakambi also stated that the other challenge was that customers had a tendency to share permits, which was also a disturbing trend at the border.

Some of the topics discussed at the workshop, which was attended by among others, farmers and street hawkers, included application processes for importation and exportation  of horticultural produce and phyto-sanitary requirements. ENDS