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The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Zimbabwe, in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) and the Competition and Tariff Commission (CTC), convened a pivotal training titled “Promoting Prosperity Pathways for Women and Youth-led MSMEs within the AfCFTA: Role of Customs Officials in Trade Facilitation” for Border Officials based at Forbes border post between Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
This is the fourth (after Beitbridge, Kazungula, and Victoria Falls ) in a series of sessions to capacitate Zimbabwe’s Border officials to play their key role in trade facilitation with a particular focus on women and youth-led Micro Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). This training brought together key stakeholders from the government, the private sector, various border agencies, and development partners to address critical barriers and opportunities for inclusive trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The training is part of a package of AfCFTA-related interventions which include training of MSMEs to enable them to maximise the AfCFTA opportunity.
Role of Customs Officials in Trade Facilitation
Recognizing customs officials as key enablers of trade, the training and discussions centered on capacity building to streamline customs procedures. This includes training on rules of origin, anti-dumping measures, and the elimination of non-tariff barriers to ensure efficient cross-border trade. The session also tackled the particular issues that women and youth often face at border points and ways in which border officials can help address them.
Strategic Alignment with AfCFTA Objectives
The AfCFTA aims to create a single market of 1.3 billion people with a combined GDP of $3.4 trillion. This training reinforced Zimbabwe’s commitment to aligning national policies with the AfCFTA framework, fostering economic integration and sustainable development.
Women and Youth Protocols
Discussions highlighted the AfCFTA’s Women and Youth Protocol, which seeks to ensure that women and youth benefit from trade opportunities, while also making provision for informal enterprises to enter into formal economies through tools such as simplified trade regimes. Empowering women and youth in trade will unlock significant economic potential for Zimbabwe and the broader continent.
Speaking during the workshop, Melusi Tshuma, UNDP Coordinator – Tax for SDGs, stated, “Women and youth-led businesses are not just participants; they are leaders of Africa’s trade revolution. This conference paves the way for equitable access to markets, finance, and technology under the AfCFTA framework.”
Ethel Bangwayo, UNDP National Economist, remarked, “Customs officials are critical to unlocking the full potential of the AfCFTA. Through effective training and streamlined border procedures, we can reduce trade costs and leverage trade, particularly through the AfCFTA, for inclusive growth.”
The workshop was meant to promote increased awareness of the AfCFTA among border agencies. It also enhanced the capacity of customs officials to facilitate trade effectively; and strengthened collaboration between government, private sector, and development partners to empower women and youth in trade. It also led to the identification of actionable strategies to eliminate non-tariff barriers and reduce trade costs.
