By Kefiloe Kajane
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has released guidelines on harmonisation and facilitation of cross border transport operations across the Region During the Covid-19 pandemic.
The objectives of the guidelines are to limit the spread of COVID-19 through transport across borders; facilitate the implementation of transport related national COVID-19 measures in cross border transportation; facilitate interstate flow of goods and services; institute safe measures to allow movement of passengers across borders; and balance, align, harmonise and coordinate COVID-19 response measures with the requirements for trade and transport facilitation.
They also seek to promote safe trade and transport facilitation for economic growth and poverty alleviation in the SADC region; and facilitate the adoption and implementation of harmonized standard operating procedures for management and monitoring of cross border road transport at designated points of entry and Covid-19 checkpoints