Angola and Zambia sign agreement to strengthen control of the common border
The Angolan and Zambian customs authorities have signed in Luanda an agreement for the implementation of the Joint Action Plan to adopt strategies aimed at greater control of the common border.
The agreement was signed by the director of Customs Services of the General Tax Authority (AGT), Celestino Culecalala, and the head of the Zambian Commission for Customs Services, Sidney Chibbabbuka.
The event took place during the tripartite meeting between the Customs Administrations of Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia, all members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
On that occasion, the administrator of the AGT, José Dinis Dungo, considered it important to regulate the commercial movement with emphasis on railroad traffic and standardization of mechanisms against border crimes.
José Dinis Dungo said that it was imperative to share experiences and initiatives to strengthen border-level collaboration, taking into account the growing number of trade between African countries.
He called for speeding up the construction of infrastructures at the common border, improving the connection of computer systems and more patrolling for a higher collection of customs revenues and other taxes through close cooperation between customs administrations.
The administrator of the AGT recalled that in order to safeguard its borders, the three neighboring countries with historical relations signed cooperation agreements and mutual administrative assistance in customs matters, in order to ensure the exchange of information, the correct application of customs legislation, and the prevention and prosecution of customs offenses.
The aim of the meeting, which runs from 12 to 15 this month, is to present the proposal for the Tripartite Action Plan for the adoption of strategies aimed at greater control of the common border, regulating the market movement with emphasis on road traffic and the standardization of mechanisms against border crimes.