Title: The modernization of the Kasumbalesa border post: an important step in the fight against customs fraud
Introduction :
The Congolese government, under the leadership of President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, has taken strong measures to combat customs fraud and smuggling at the border. In this context, the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DGDA) recently inaugurated a set of modern infrastructures at the Kasumbalesa border post, on the border with Zambia. This initiative aims to improve the management of customs files, maximize state revenue and streamline cross-border trade. Focus on this significant progress in the fight against customs fraud.
The new face of the Kasumbalesa border post:
In order to strengthen the control and management capacities of customs operations, a modern building of 2,600 square meters was built at the Kasumbalesa border post. Equipped with cutting-edge technological equipment, it houses the services involved and allows rapid processing of customs files. In addition to this building, an 8-kilometer reinforced concrete bypass road was built, as well as bonded warehouses, import-export parking lots that can accommodate 1,500 trucks and housing for customs officers.
A public-private partnership to maximize customs revenue:
The DGDA carried out this project in collaboration with the Congolese company TRAFIGO SARL, managed by Madame Magalie Kayitesa Raway. This company has put in place a reliable and secure system to maximize customs revenue at the Kasumbalesa post. Thanks to efficient traceability software and transparent procedures integrated into the banking system, the financial authority was able to see a spectacular increase in its revenue, going from 700 to 1,000% in the first year of implementation of the system.
An effective fight against customs fraud and smuggling:
The modernization of the Kasumbalesa border post allows faster and more efficient management of customs operations. Thanks to an electronic payment system for crossing fees, the DGDA receives payments for cross-border crossings in real time via the ASYCUDA platform. This secure channeling of state revenue has contributed to the increase in resources needed to respond to the challenges of the Congolese border and southern Africa as a whole. This initiative is considered a textbook case in the fight against customs fraud and could be replicated in other customs posts in the region.
Conclusion :
The modernization of the Kasumbalesa border post demonstrates the commitment of President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo and his government in the fight against customs fraud and smuggling. Thanks to an effective public-private partnership and the use of modern technologies, the DGDA has succeeded in maximizing its customs revenues and improving the management of customs operations. This project constitutes a major step forward in the fight against customs fraud in the Democratic Republic of Congo and demonstrates the importance of cooperation between the State and the private sector to guarantee transparent and efficient management of State revenue.