Namra customs upgrade unleashes border chaos, truck delays

The rollout of the Namibia Revenue Agency’s (Namra) upgraded customs system has triggered operational disruptions at several border posts, with heavy cargo trucks reportedly stranded for days as authorities battle technical glitches and infrastructure limitations.

The congestion has been particularly severe at the Katima Mulilo Border Post, where some truck drivers have reportedly spent more than four days in queues amid slow customs processing.

Drivers’ frustration over the delays is compounded by limited access to water and ablution facilities.

Speaking on NBC yesterday, Namra commissioner Sam Shivute acknowledged the disruptions.

He said they mainly stem from the implementation of a new customs platform introduced on 5 May to replace the ageing Asycuda World system.

“Last time it was upgraded was 2014,” Shivute said. “It was behind by about 11 upgrade versions.”

According to Shivute, the previous system had become outdated, inefficient and heavily dependent on manual paperwork.

“For example, a clearing agent may be required, on just one transaction, to print about 100 pages,” he said. “With the new upgrade, one would be in a position to have just one document instead of about 100 copies.”

The upgraded system is intended to modernise customs operations, strengthen cargo monitoring and improve revenue assurance.

Slow internet

However, Shivute admitted that the transition has been accompanied by operational hurdles.

“One thing that has been picked up is that the borders, especially the remote borders, there are issues with the slowness of the system,” he said.

He attributed part of the problem to poor internet connectivity and insufficient bandwidth at certain facilities.

“Sometimes it could be the network, because your internet connectivity at your remote border post is not one of your best,” the commissioner explained.

Namra has engaged providers to improve bandwidth and stabilise connectivity at affected border points, he said.

Shivute also pointed to complications from the introduction of the user pays principle (UPP), a regional initiative involving Namibia, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The system imposes a levy of 90 cents per tonne on cargo transported along the Walvis Bay–Ndola–Lubumbashi corridor. Cargo operators are required to provide proof of payment before exiting Namibia, adding another processing layer at border posts.

Although the UPP is not directly part of Namra’s customs platform, Shivute said its integration into border procedures has contributed to delays.

“There are also some advanced modules that have been introduced in the system,” he added. “That one we suspended as well.”

He explained that some newly introduced features had to be temporarily disabled after they were found to be slowing down operations.

Technical teams are currently working to stabilise and optimise the system while responding to real-time operational feedback.

Staff training carried out

Despite the disruptions, Shivute defended the rollout, saying the upgrade followed extensive preparation, including user acceptance testing and stakeholder training.

He conceded, however, that some clearing agents and operators, particularly in remote areas, were not fully prepared for the operational shift.

“We are very much aware of the concern, but the good news is that our team is very much hard at work making sure that those challenges that have been identified are properly dealt with,” the commissioner said.

He said Namra’s immediate priority is restoring stability before conducting a broader assessment of the system’s performance.

“When we are faced with a challenge or there’s a storm, first we focus on the solution,” Shivute said.