Poor staff training blamed
THE RECENT introduction by Namibian Customs of a new computerised system - ASYCUDA - is proving a major handicap to transport operators, says Wesbank Transport’s JP van Rooyen.
“It’s the same old story,” he says. “New plans and new operating methods are introduced by officialdom, but they leave it until the last minute to train the people who have to operate them.
“The result is that customs officials are trying to get their work done and begin to understand the new system all at the same time. Now we find trucks standing up to a day or two at border posts waiting for clearance.”
This, says Van Rooyen, is proving particularly stressful in the northern sectors of the country, where cargo destined for southern Angola is forced to pile up unnecessarily.
“There is so much cargo arriving in Walvis Bay harbour and destined for Angola that we have engaged sub-contractors to assist us in the transportation. This is good news from the country’s economy point of view, but the customs delays are not helping matters.”
And it’s not only the customs hold-ups that concern Van Rooyen.
“I received Christmas cards in early March which had been posted in South Africa in good time. Your own FTW takes around 18 days to reach our offices. The postal system is also something of a nightmare.”
