THE government lost millions of dollars through delayed
revenue inflows due to the slow processing of imports and exports after the
switching off internet services countrywide.
Government threw the country into a total internet blackout
twice last week during the mass protests against fuel price hikes and general
economic hardships.
Other security protocols were also breached when shipping
agents at Beitbridge resorted to South African networks to bypass Zimbabwe’s
closed systems.
Shipping agents yesterday said turn-around time of
documents processing was irritatingly slow. Others lost clients to those with
SA network links when the movement of vehicles became slow.
Zimbabwe Revenue Authority ( Zimra ) spokesman Francis
Chimanda asked for questions in writing, but was yet to respond by the time of
going to print.
“We will lose money to down time of trucks. They will
charge clients more, thereby negatively affecting the pricing of goods.
Documents going into Customs are slow in coming out and frustration is abound,”
one shipping agent said.
Some are using Vodacom or other SA networks and bypassing
several checkpoints in the system,” he said.
Others were physically presenting papers to Customs instead
of the online facility.
Zimra was not able to deduct payment on time and would
incur losses from delayed revenue for those using the manual system.
Government shut down internet reception on Tuesday in a
move meant to cut communication among its citizens. They claimed the internet
was facilitating the organisation of anti-government protests.
Internet was briefly restored on Wednesday afternoon before
being shut down again a few hours later. Partial services were only restored on
Friday afternoon.
Before the second internet blackout, business had reverted
to normal at Beitbridge where shops had been closed.
Money changers were back on the streets at their trading
points on Friday and only schools had not opened. Standard
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