Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) says the installation of a power backup system at Nsanje border post has reduced clearance delays, improved trade facilitation, and made it easier for importers and exporters to do business at the border.
MRA Customs Officer in Nsanje, Olivia Mlelemba, says the station is now boosting revenue collection, improving efficiency and service delivery.
The power backup system was installed in 2021 under the World Bank-funded Southern Africa Trade and Connectivity Project (SATCP) to reduce disruptions brought by electricity outages.
“We used to face challenges in the past. We could not achieve our monthly target and the impact on revenue collection was huge, as well as on facilitating trade. But things have now improved, as we now have uninterrupted power,” she added.
One of the cross-border business operators, Joseph Alumando, said uninterrupted power has contributed immensely to his business, noting that he now spends less time on the border to clear his goods.
Nsanje border post is one of Malawi’s key entry points connecting to Mozambique and is vital for cross-border trade in the Shire Valley districts of Nsanje and Chikwawa.
By Chisomo Break
