The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa(Comesa) wants clearance of essential transit cargo across the region fast-tracked, even as truckers remains affected by Covid-19. The 21 member state trade block says this should be done through pre-clearance and or prompter clearance to facilitate trade and reduce the risk of infections at the border posts. “Member states are urged to put in place priority processing channels for goods and services classified as essential. The channels should also accelerate the clearance and movement of transit goods across the countries,”Comesa Business Council(CBC) said in a statement on Friday. In its regional trade guidelines , it wants member states to ensure that drivers and their crew in cross-border transit , and those delivering essential goods inland, are facilitated as needed.

Source: The Star June 01, 2020 09:11 UTC