RRA increases working days for better service delivery

The change is one of Rwanda’s numerous efforts towards effective implementation of 24 hour border access as agreed with East African Community (EAC) members. Rwanda Revenue Author¬ity (RRA) has increased the number of working days from five to six including Saturday, in a continued preparation for the 24 hour opening of the borders, which is expected to be achieved by mid this year. This was revealed by Gerald Nkusi, Director of Tax Payer Services department. “This is to harmonise the borders and inland handling of goods,” Nkusi said. RRA staff is expected to start working on Saturdays by the 14th February 2009. He said that this adjust¬ment affects all stakeholders involved in the handling of goods. “The airport, MAGERWA and customs department will also start working on Satur¬days,” Nkusi said. To cope with the changes, RRA started preparations last year in advance by making recruitments to increase its staff. “RRA is doubling its staff. The customs department was previously 200. By last year we increased the number to 250. And we are aiming to get them to 300,” he said. On 16th January this year, RRA convened a meeting of stakeholders to inform them in advance of the changes.“We called Private Sector Fed¬eration (PSF) officials, clear¬ing and forwarding agents, the business community and informed them about the ex¬tra hours,” he added. Nkusi also said that the changes are meant to prevent backlog of goods in warehouses as the hours increasing. He also added that about 10 trucks are received at Gatuna border since the extension of hours. The extension is an advantage to some businessmen importing goods on Friday who would wait to receive them on Monday. The change is one of Rwanda’s numerous efforts towards effective implementation of 24 hour border access, as agreed with East African Community (EAC) members. Last year, Rwandan and Burundian customs staff got training in preparation for the 24 hour border operations. In connection with the 24 hour access, the EAC members also agreed to remove any delays along the northern corridor hampering business. Uganda and Kenya reduced the number of weighbridges and Rwanda had to remove several road blocks. Ends