STAKEHOLDERS’ WORKSHOP ON INTEGRATED BORDER MANAGEMENT LUSAKA, ZAMBIA Republic of Zambia Ministry of Home Affairs Department of Immigration THE ROLE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION IN TRADE FACILITATION AT THE BORDERS STAKEHOLDERS’ WORKSHOP ON INTEGRATED BORDER MANAGEMENT LUSAKA, ZAMBIA Anderson S. Phiri Chief Immigration Officer Department of Immigration Lusaka, Zambia 5/16/2019

INTRODUCTION The Department of Immigration is one of the public institutions which falls under the Ministry of Home Affairs. It is the sole Department that presides over all Immigration matters including the production and management of immigration documents countrywide and its mandate is drawn from an Act of Parliament number 18 of 2010. 5/16/2019

MISSION STATEMENT To facilitate and regulate the movement of persons entering and leaving the country and control the stay of immigrants and visitors in order to contribute to internal security and sustainable social – economic development. 5/16/2019

STRUCTURE The Department is headed by a Chief Immigration Officer and is made up of the Headquarters, nine (09) Regional Offices, thirty six (36) Border controls, four (4) International Airports, thirty nine (39) Internal Offices and eight (8) Missions Abroad 5/16/2019

ZAMBIA’S BORDERS Zambia is a landlocked country bordered with Tanzania to the northeast, Malawi to the east, Mozambique and Zimbabwe to the southeast, Botswana and Namibia to the south, Angola on the west and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the northwest 5/16/2019

Cont…. Region Land Water Air Lusaka 1 2 Copperbelt 4 Southern Northern Zambia has a Total of forty (40)Border Controls which as shown in the table below: Region Land Water Air Lusaka 1 2 Copperbelt 4 Southern Northern 6 Western Eastern N/Western Luapula Total 29 7 5/16/2019

TRADE FACILITATION AND IMMIGRATION Trade facilitation can be described as the simplification, harmonization, automation and speeding up of the international flow of people and goods across borders 5/16/2019

TRADE FACILITATION AND IMMIGRATION It has become a topical and significant issue for developing countries like Zambia because it is acknowledged that there is a strong link between increased trade, economic growth and poverty reduction The fact that any attempts to facilitate trade inevitably involve the aspect of international flow of people makes the role of Immigration Agencies critical in its realization. 5/16/2019

Cont… The Department of Immigration takes cognizance of this link and as such its trade facilitation role resonates through its mission statement which is “To facilitate and regulate the movement of persons entering and leaving the country and control the stay of immigrants and visitors in order to contribute to internal security and sustainable social - economic development”. 5/16/2019

THE DEPARTMENT’S TRADE FACILITATION ROLE Passenger and Driver clearance Issuance of appropriate permits Visa issuance Maintenance on Internal Security 5/16/2019

ACHIEVEMENTS Cross Border Permit. Temporary Employment Permit Introduction of a number of new permits in line with COMESA aspirations Protocols. These include; Cross Border Permit. Temporary Employment Permit Transit Permit Automation of Borders Immigration website Development of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) 5/16/2019

CHALLENGES Inadequate staff strength. Lack of basic technology and equipment to improve patrols and policing are almost non-existent at most of the Border controls. Clearing a travelers is basically Labour intensive with little technological underpinning The porous nature of our borders contributes to the security risks of our country. 5/16/2019

CHALLENGES Cont… Some travelers are unable to complete immigration forms in a timely manner and thus contribute to delays in their clearance. Lack of communication, cooperation and partnership at the local and regional level of border agencies Laws in some SADC Countries do not facilitate the free movement of persons. Lack of awareness of citizens from SADC member countries about their rights and responsibilities leads many to use unapproved routes in most cases without any travel documents. 5/16/2019

CHALLENGES Cont… Lack of sensitization by the Regional Groupings e.g. COMESA and SADC about free movements of persons in the Region is causing citizens to react and resent the presence of foreigners on their soils. Lack of trading facilities for foreign traders in member State Countries is causing the locals to complain about foreigners that are found in their markets trading in different merchandise. 5/16/2019

PROPORSALS/CONCLUSION There is need to conduct a thorough need assessment for a comprehensive national border management system in order to develop a border management system that meets the needs of the Department and the same to be replicated at all border controls. The above can only go so far in enhancing trade facilitation because trade inevitably involves more than one country and as such un-harmonized and varying Trade and Immigration laws remain the most critical hurdle in trade facilitation efforts. It is therefore critical to champion the harmonization of Immigration Legislation in the Region. 5/16/2019

Cont… There is need for COMESA and SADC Countries to seriously sensitize their citizens about these regional groupings and what they stand for. 5/16/2019

CONCLUSION THANK YOU…. 5/16/2019