NamRA rejects calls to reverse customs system

WINDHOEK, 19 MAY (NAMPA) - The Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) has refused to revert to its previous customs system despite a petition from clearing agents demanding a rollback following congestion at border posts, Commissioner Sam Shivute said Monday in Windhoek.
Shivute during a media conference on Monday referred to clearing agents gathered outside the NamRA office in Swakopmund early in May. They submitted a petition that called for a return to manual processing and cited nationwide supply chain disruptions and containers stuck at the port of Walvis Bay.
“The demand that we revert back, that is not going to happen,” Shivute said.
He said the agency has substantive evidence that the Automated System for Customs Data upgrade, which went live on 05 May, is functioning and will enhance trade facilitation.
Border congestion peaked on 10 May when more than 167 trucks queued for up to five kilometres outside the Katima Mulilo border post, with similar scenes at the Ariamsvlei border post where more than 100 trucks were counted at midday.
Shivute said the agency established a “war room” - a live operational centre bringing together technical and functional teams, to resolve issues in real time.
“It’s called a war room where you then have all the technical experts and functional teams working live on issues,” he said.
By 20h00 on 11 May, he said, congestion at all affected border posts had been cleared.
“No other congestion has been experienced since,” Shivute said.
He said calls for a nationwide protest at NamRA offices did not materialise, though the Swakopmund gathering resulted in a petition which he has since received.
He added that a senior customs leadership team would be dispatched to Walvis Bay to engage clearing agents directly and address outstanding concerns.
“Whatever challenge that will come our way will be addressed,” he said.
He said NamRA remained committed to digital transformation and would not reverse course on system modernisation.
“This change is good for Namibia. It will make Namibia more competitive,” he said.
(NAMPA)
CW/AS