Farai Mabeza, Senior Staff Writer 
ZIMBABWE customs clearing agents’ associations recently came together to formulate a common code of conduct and ethics, which they hope will help build public confidence in the sector.
Chairperson of one of the associations, the Zimbabwe Network of Customs and Excise Experts, Weekmore Homera, acknowledged that the industry had been fingered in acts of corruption various times.
“There have been reports of corruption, but we did not have a governing document. Clearing agents were being accused of facilitating corruption, which would lead to loss of government revenue.
“This code will ensure that as we do business involving trade facilitation, Zimbabwe will be recognised as a well-disciplined nation whereby the trade facilitating agents are not involved in any unethical conduct,” Homera told The Financial Gazette after the launch of the code of conduct.
“In pursuance of attaining the highest ethical standards and professionalism, the Zimbabwe customs brokers/clearing companies represented by their various associations came together to formulate a common code of conduct and ethics. This is also a result of being mindful of the need to foster public trust and confidence in the customs clearing industry for the good of the industry,” a statement from the associations added.
“This code shall form the basis of the conduct and ethics of any organisation or individual who wishes to engage in the customs clearing business in Zimbabwe. The code was proposed, but took years before it was adopted by the associations. It was however, eventually adopted and signed on July 16, 2020.
“The code was then reviewed in 2022 to cover some grey areas that were making its enforcement difficult. This was done by attending to the sections of the code that required clarification or enhancement. The associations conducted research to find out how other customs brokers’ codes were written. The areas of research included members of the World Customs Organisation from SADC, East Africa, West Africa, and countries like Brazil, Jamaica and the United States of America. Relevant provisions from the codes of ethics from these places were then used to enhance our own code.”
Homera explained some of the grey areas that caused problems with the initial code.
“It (developing the code) has been a process. The first one had a lot of grey areas. For example, it did not have appropriate disciplinary measures for offenders. The new document has everything,” he said.
He added that enforcement would be done by the associations.
“Clearing agents are required to belong to an association for them to interact with Zimra (Zimbabwe Revenue Authority). So, associations will use that power and suspend anyone who violates the code. This would mean that one can no longer interact with Zimra,” Homera said.
newsdesk@fingaz.co.zw
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