MRA launches cargo scanners

The Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) on Saturday launched cargo scanners in Mwanza which are expected to reduce the time of processing both imports and exports in Malawi’s five borders.

Presiding over the launch of the scanners which also included the delivery of three more scanners bringing a total to five, Minister of Finance Ken Lipenga said the scanners are important because they will make border operations more efficient.

“We now know that the border operations will be faster and more efficient. Many of the problems have been because we were not able to catch the cheats as we did not have this kind of technology.  It takes only a matter of minutes to scan a truck so what used to take an hour will now take minutes,” said Lipenga.

Handing over the equipment the donors of the scanners the Peoples Republic of China Ambassador to Malawi Pan Hejun said the scanners will help Malawi move from aid to trade.

“With the increase of goods passing through the ports, it is more and more difficult to conduct manual inspection. The container inspection system will improve the efficiency of MRA contributing to national security and collection of customs duties,” he said.

In a press statement issued on Thursday which was signed by MRA commissioner general John Biziwick, the tax body said, it will be using the scanners to determine the type of cargo entering or exiting the country.

Biziwick said the machines produce X–ray images of goods being transported in containers, tankers or even break bulks and in addition the images may reveal concealed items in any part of the conveyance.

He added, that the main objectives of the cargo scanners is to detect smuggled goods in conveyances passing through customs, strengthen customs function of protection of society from harmful and prohibited goods such as weapons which may not ordinarily be declared to customs.