Browsing by Subject "Management Practice"
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- ItemOpen AccessAnalysis and design as bricolage(2015) Edwards, Mogammad ShariefInformation Systems in generally acknowledged to be a complex field and many studies over time have quoted significant failure statistics. This paper seeks to answer the question - How to more appropriately evaluate and select information systems design (ISD) methods that better enable successful design outcomes. The research covers literature relating analysis and design, information systems design methods, complexity, ontology and conceptual modelling and how they relate to ISD. This research was conducted within a larger national research project aiming to improve organising practices within IT in organisations. To this end the research followed a participatory action research approach underpinned by systems thinking theoretical perspective. What emerged out of this study was the appreciation for the bricolage that takes during an analysis or design effort - this perspective highlighted the following factors that can enable improved method evaluation and selection, namely: Epistemology, Contextual Influences and Social Action. These factors are shown to operate in dialectic process that if engaged with can provide insight into what an appropriate method can be.
- ItemOpen AccessAn analysis of how the online non-tariff barriers mechanism facilitates reporting, monitoring and elimination of NTBs in the COMESA, EAC and SADC Region(2015) Hove, Vonesai Shuvirai; Viljoen, WillemienMember countries of multilateral and regional organisations have progressively negotiated tariff preferences and achieved tariff reductions on substantial trade. However, a tendency of policy reversal has been witnessed due to non-tariff barriers (NTBs) being imposed to control trade and recoup losses arising from reduced duties. To address the proliferation of NTBs, multilateral and regional organisations are implementing various forms of NTB notification, reporting, monitoring and eliminating mechanisms. The broad objectives of this study is to evaluate the performance of the tripartite NTBs reporting, monitoring and eliminating mechanism against best practice and establish its effectiveness to remove NTBs in the tripartite region. The main aim is to identify challenges and gaps in the design of the mechanism that are critical to the effective management of NTBs. Existing literature on mechanisms to address NTBs was reviewed. The focus of which was the main elements of reporting, monitoring and resolution of NTBs through the online mechanism. Policies dealing with NTBs were identified. The short comings of the tripartite online NTB mechanism (NTB-RMM) particularly with regards to data inadequacies, poor categorisation which impact negatively on NTB monitoring and policy improvements in the tripartite countries were also identified from literature. The online mechanism, hosted on the website www.tradebarriers.org was the primary source of the information and data utilised for analysis in this study. Supplementary information was obtained from the actual responses from a target group using questionnaires and interviews. Data analysis was done by aggregating and assessing results from the data extracted from the mechanism, responses from questionnaire, available literature, findings from the desk research and oral and telephonic interviews. Evidence from literature indicated that there are basically two types of NTB mechanisms implemented at multilateral, regional and national levels. These are web and non-web based notification and reporting mechanisms. The mechanisms designed by the WTO, EU and OECD are notification mechanisms whereas the mechanisms implemented by other organisations like ECOWAS, COMESA, EAC and SADC are reporting mechanisms.
- ItemOpen AccessAn analysis of South Africa exports to the United States under the African Growth Opportunity Act(2015) Chinembiri, Evans Wally Kudzai; Hartzenberg, TrudiThe African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is a unilateral trade policy concession governing United States - Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) trade and investment relations. AGOA provides United States market access for 40 SSA countries, including South Africa. This piece of legislation has the fundamental objective of facilitating the global integration of SSA countries into the world economy by extending preferential access to the United States market for exporters from eligible countries. Over the past decade, AGOA has emerged as a topical issue as scholars and policy makers sought to understand its impact on SSA, especially South Africa. This has been awarded more impetus given its pending expiration in 2015. This, naturally, raised questions about the performance of United States preference programs (such as AGOA) as part of a larger ongoing debate on the form that United States preference programs may take in the foreseeable future. With South Africa facing a serious opposition to inclusion in the next shape of AGOA given the number of trade agreements South Africa has signed with countries that are competitors to United States in certain product categories. This study will seek to highlight the importance of the AGOA dispensation to South Africa, and through that analysis make a case for the continued inclusion of South Africa in the future trade dispensations that may develop. This study focuses on two research objectives; firstly, the study seeks to assess the extent to which increased preferential access to the United States market has translated into a real and tangible increase in exports from South Africa to the United States. Secondly, the study seeks to identify the areas where South Africa and the United States have high trade potential, and help make a case for inclusion of these high potential trade products in the next iteration of the AGOA dispensation. In achieving the first research objective, the study carried out a detailed trade statistics analysis with the hope of gaining greater understanding of the extent to which AGOA has influenced trade patterns between the United States and South Africa. South Africa's trade figures show that the United States is an important trade partner. A key conclusion that can be drawn from the analysis is the observation that a fair amount of growth in South Africa's exports to the United States is fundamentally characterized by two key aspects namely; growth in specific commodities and an export base that is becoming gradually concentrated over time. This implies that trade between South Africa and the United States is shifting towards a new focus in line with AGOA incentives and by extension one may conclude that South African firms are utilizing the market opportunities and the networks that enable them to effectively exploit the United States market. In fulfilling the second research objective, the detailed trade potential analysis that is propped up by a robust analysis of trade trends was carried out. The trade potential analysis identified thirteen commodity groups as having high potential for further exports into the United States market, and Pearls, precious stones and metals were identified as having the highest indicative trade potential, although the picture changes as the data is further disaggregated. This suggests that there is enormous potential and a great scope for export of pearls, precious stones and metals to the United States.
- ItemOpen AccessAn analysis of the level of liberalisation in South Africa's transport sector(2015) Daya, Bharti; Cronje, J BThe transport sector is critical to the performance of various sectors of the economy both trade in goods and services hinges on an efficient and reliable transport services sector. South Africa has undertaken limited commitments under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in the transport sector. South Africa's transport sector in general is controlled by the government through state owned firms. The transport sector is competitive relative to Africa, however, relative to developed economies, the transport sector lags behind in terms of efficiency and cost (DBSA, 2012). Inefficiencies result in increased transaction costs and impede the overall competitiveness and economic performance of the country. The transport sector and other services sectors in general are mainly governed by domestic legislation. Barriers to trade in services may be located in laws and regulations of individual economies often referred to as behind the border measures such as license, technical, educational, registration and local ownership requirements and as such are more difficult to address than barriers to goods. (Hartzenberg, 2012). To identify these measures it is important to undertake an assessment of the legislation governing sector. This study analyses both vertical and horizontal legislation governing the sector. This study aims to assess the level of liberalisation of South Africa's transport sector to gauge the presence of trade restrictive measures in the sector that would limit access, establishment and or operation by foreign service suppliers. This is done through an analysis of domestic legislation governing the transport sector and its related sub - sectors. This effectively entails a comparison between actual commitments as reflected in South Africa's GATS schedule of specific commitments and applied policy as reflected in legislation. Data from such a study provides valuable technical information to trade negotiators regarding the policy space available allowing them to develop and formulate informed negotiating positions. The methodology employed in this study is adapted from the World Bank's Regulatory Assessment of Services, Trade and Investment (RASTI) and has been adapted for purposes of this study. A country, prior to engaging in a services negotiation should conduct an assessment of the level of liberalisation of each service sector to gauge its competitive strengths and weaknesses. Such an assessment entails an assessment of the country's regulation to determine if such regulation is overly burdensome to the extent that it inhibits competition and trade in services in an economy. Once such an assessment is concluded, a large number of countries have found that domestic regulatory reforms are necessary for effective participation in services negotiations. (Molinuevo & Sáez, 2014). The importance for such assessments often referred to as audits, have been confirmed as the most effective way of ensuring that regulations are not restrictive of trade. (Molinuevo & Sáez, 2014). Moreover, periodic regulatory audits serve the purpose of identifying discriminatory measures and minimising discriminatory effects that have the effect of increasing costs and discriminating against foreign service suppliers. A comparison of the liberalisation of South Africa's transport sector in terms of the actual commitments (as reflected in the GATS services schedule) against the applied domestic regulation is an important exercise in view of the discussions at the WTO level about the liberalisation of services and at a regional level in view of South Africa's regional and continental aspirations to promote regional integration. The transport sector has been identified as a priority sector in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) invol ving, COMESA, E AC and SADC. In the TFTA negotiations, even though the first phase focused on trade in goods, the second phase will address trade in services, including transport services. Negotiations in SADC based on the Protocol on Trade in Services are ongoing and wil l include transport services. A study of this nature is important for undertaking and formulating negotiating positions for trade in services and may be replicated across various service sectors.
- ItemOpen AccessAssessing the consistency of the implementation of the Namibian Horticultural Market Share Promotion Scheme under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994(2015) Uusiku, Frans N; Viljoen, WillemienThe application of Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs) and specifically non-automatic import licensing schemes has been a source of intense debate to date, despite prohibitive provisions enshrined in multilateral trade agreements. The main aim of this case study research was to assess the consistency of the implementation of the Namibian Horticultural Market Share Promotion Scheme (MSPS) under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 and the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The second segment of this study looked at identifying problems associated with the implementation of the scheme, and proposed policy recommendations that are responsive to competitive challenges facing industries in the 21st century. The study used a triangulation research methodology and a rating scale was used to conduct the assessment with respect to all the applicable provisions covered in the WTO Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures. A reliability test was conducted using the SPSS statistical software in order to measure the credibility of the data (scores). In this regard, the Cronbach's alpha coefficient was very instrumental in measuring the degree of data consistency. Moreover, the relative frequency distribution was used to analyse the quantitative data, while an Interrelationship Diagram was used to analyse qualitative data.
- ItemOpen AccessA case study of the Customs Administrative Penalty Provision as contained in the Customs & Excise Act, No.91 of 1964 of South Africa, and a comparison of the South African regime with selected foreign customs penalty regime(2015) Levendal, Josua; Erasmus, GerhardThe world of international trade has evolved over the centuries and, with this process of evolution, unique challenges have emerged over time. International trade, in essence, involves the movement of goods and services across borders; it is conducted mainly by private firms rather than governments. The suggested role of government is to create an environment that allows for efficient international trade. Such an environment is manifested in the provision of an adequate physical infrastructure and a transparent regulatory environment. Today, an organisation such as the World Trade Organization (WTO), whose members direct the vast bulk of international trade, plays an active role in advancing the agenda of a rules-based international trade regime. This same organization also provides, on an ongoing basis, initiatives directed to improving the facilitation of trade internationally. Examples of trade facilitation initiatives are the recent Bali-Agreement (The Trade Facilitation Agreement, 2013), signed by WTO members in 2013 in Bali, and the Revised Kyoto Convention of the World Customs Organization (WCO) which has, as its objective, the elimination of barriers to efficient international trade. This dissertation focuses on customs penalty regime as utilised by South Africa. The South African regime is compared with certain foreign and international customs penalty regimes (in this case, Canada, the United States of America and the European Union). The study further explores the appeal system available to transgressors of these regimes. The penalty - and appeal regimes is further analysed against recommendations and prescripts in international agreements to which these countries are parties, specifically the WTO Bali Agreement and the WCO Revised Kyoto Convention. A practical and transparent customs penalty regime will obviously support the agenda to improve trade facilitation, a situation that is desired by traders throughout the globe.
- ItemOpen AccessA case study on customs trade facilitation at Zambia's Kasumbalesa border post(2015) Mfune, Moses Lameck; Erasmus, GerhardThe expansion of global trade, especially trade in intermediate products, compels goods to cross borders multiple times before assembly. This phenomena requires better trade facilitation mechanisms in conveyancing goods and people across borders. The World Customs Organization, among many other organizations, has been in the fore-front of promoting these trade facilitation techniques. This qualitative case study has an objective of analyzing the current trade facilitation techniques used at Kasumbalesa. It also aims at pointing out any outdated customs procedures. During the study, data was collected using questionnaires and oral interviews. Secondary data was also collected from publications of the World Customs Organization, World Bank and the World Trade Organization, among other sources. In addition, observational methods were also used to collect data. The case study focuses on Kasumbalesa as a representative entry/exit point in Zambia. Consequently, identification of challenges faced by goods and people crossing Kasumbalesa can help streamline operations at other Zambian borders.
- ItemOpen AccessThe decline of piston manufacturers in the Southern African Customs Union(2015) Tshabalala, Sipho Aubrey; Hartzenberg, TrudiDuring the period of the years 1952 to 2009, there have been only two automotive piston manufacturers in the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). SACU is comprised of the following five member states; South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland. Owing to the SACU agreement, these countries have enjoyed fairly good trade flows in goods and services amongst each other. The role of the abovementioned piston manufacturers was the provision of piston components to engine assembling companies in the SACU region as well as for sale to the aftermarket.
- ItemOpen AccessDesigning purposeful action among divergent stakeholders: A 'being-doing' Approach(2014) McDonogh, Jennifer Claire; Elsje, Scott; Sewchurran, KosheekCoordinating and organising divergent stakeholders to undertake action to improve a shared situation of concern is an increasingly perplexing problem. Industry, government and academia operate in siloes, make decisions at different speeds, have disparate worldviews and value sets, and do not share the same priorities and concerns. Whilst meetings between these stakeholders are not uncommon, progressing these conversations beyond ‘talk’ to achieve commitment to act, requires purposeful effort. This study investigates the persistent and relevant problem of how to design purposeful action, in a ‘wicked’ problem situation that cannot be solved by any one stakeholder operating alone, and in which the stakeholders do not share the same interpretation of the problem situation. Although such situations are common in cluster development, the literature on cluster development does not offer solutions as to how to design purposeful action, nor does it provide insight as to why attempts to intervene in systemic problems can result in a failure to improve the problem situation.
- ItemOpen AccessDeveloping a systemic disaster prevention paradigm(2010) Maree, HeinThis research project's objective was the development of a systemic disaster prevention paradigm. Disasters can generally be classified as either natural or man-made, although hybrid disasters also do occur. The research effort focussed on man-made disasters and numerous past disasters in all spheres of life were investigated. Man-made disasters are complex, systemic phenomena that can only be understood by adopting a holistic and systemic view. This high stakes world constituted the situation to be dealt with in there search project. The research work started off with a fixation on disasters in the mining industry. It was however soon realised that in all man-made disasters there are factors and dynamics in force that are industry and context insensitive.
- ItemOpen AccessAn examination of the quality of infrastructure provided in South Africa's industrial development zone(2015) Mbambo, Dumisani Manqoba; Woolfrey, SeanA number of developing countries, particularly those in Asia, have been successful in using Special Economic Zones (SEZ) to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in export oriented manufacturing. The zones attract FDI by offering infrastructure and a hassle free business environment for investors. Most African countries that have introduced SEZs within their territories have failed to replicate the success enjoyed by a number of Asian countries. In 2000, South Africa introduced Industrial Development Zones (IDZs), another form of SEZs. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) defines IDZs as purpose-built industrial estates that leverage FDI in value-added and export-oriented manufacturing and services. Like other African countries, South Africa's IDZs have failed to live up to expectations. The South African zones continue to rely on Government for their current and capital expenditure. In 2006, the Government initiated a review of the IDZ Programme. The review mainly attributed the failure of the IDZ Programme to poor governance and made little reference to the infrastructure provided by the zones. In an effort to get a more comprehensive picture of the IDZs, this study investigates the quality of infrastructure within the zones. The major findings of this study have indicated that power and electricity remain a major concern in both the Coega Industrial Development Zone (CIDZ) and the East London Industrial Development Zone (ELIDZ) to zone authorities and enterprises. The two zones cannot accommodate electricity intensive operations and have resorted to focusing on enterprises that consume less electricity. It was also established that the communication infrastructure such as the cellular phone signal and internet connectivity are also a major concern within both the CIDZ and ELIDZ. This study also found that the ELIDZ does not have a deep water port to handle bulk cargo ships and that both the ELIDZ and the CIDZ do not have an efficient transportation network linking IDZ enterprises to the rest of the economy.
- ItemOpen AccessExport taxes as a trade policy tool in Malawi: the case of timber products(2015) Mkumba, Maxwell Young; Hartzenberg, TrudiThe study examines the export tax as a trade policy tool in Malawi, with a specific focus on the timber industry. This study was motivated by the sudden imposition of an export tax on timber trade by the Malawi Government in 2011, as a reactive policy to an upsurge in timber exports from Malawi. The objective of the study was, therefore, to investigate why the Malawi Government decided to impose the export tax, and whether this trade policy tool has been effective in meeting the objectives. In this regard, the study was done in a broad manner to cover both the theoretical aspects of the export tax, as a trade policy tool, and the practical realities about the Malawi Government's management of the forestry sector and the timber trading in an environment where the Government decided to join the global rules-based trading system. The study used a descriptive explanatory design, employing qualitative methods that involved the use of questionnaires and analysis of the existing literature. The results revealed that an export tax is a duty that is applied on products before they are exported in order to achieve certain objectives, which include government revenue collection, domestic price stabilization, achieving food security, or promoting value addition, hence, industrial development. The review of the literature has demonstrated that care should be exercised when adopting this policy tool because export taxes can be trade-restricting and welfare diminishing on a country, or can constitute a "beggar-thy-neighbour" policy when not properly designed. It is in consideration of such consequences that it has now become fashionable for modern free trade agreements (FTAs) to include provisions on export taxes. For instance, the SADC Protocol on Trade includes Article 5 which prohibits Member States from applying any export duties on goods for export to other Member States. However, from the study, it has been established that if the export taxes are properly designed and implemented, they can boost Government revenue and catalyse industrial productivity. In this respect, evidence has shown that the Government imposed the export tax on timber to curb influx of foreign traders who have been buying the timber because it was cheaper that the timber found in the neighbouring countries. This was a reactionary use of export tax as a trade policy tool, rather than taking a proactive approach to ensure that the Government achieves the policy objectives. Thus, the available literature has shown that the Government could combine the various objectives for introducing the export tax on timber. In this regard, the efficacy of the export taxes depends on the creation of proper linkages with other policy initiatives, such as existence of local knowledge, technological development and processing capacity for increased local production to meet high standards of the international market. Thus, while the Malawi Government can maintain the export tax on timber, it should be done with a very clear objectives and timeframe for using it as a trade policy tool. The Government can combine a number of policy objectives, such as, revenue generation and use the proceeds to undertake re-afforestation programme and protect the environment while, at the same time, encouraging value addition or encouraging global value chains. Such initiatives have the capacity to generate economic gains because as the country builds the productive capacities, there is employment creation and use of other domestically produced inputs or raw materials. In this respect, it is important that the pricing of timber or forestry products should also reflect the appropriate or true economic rent, which should be levied from the use of the natural resource. The study has, therefore, revealed that the Malawi Government should review the method of collecting the export taxes to ensure maximum compliance, curb corruption, and avoid loss of foreign exchange earnings. The Government should devise other ways of collecting the export taxes than at the points of exit or the designated borders. One recommendation is for the Government to place the Malawi Revenue Authority officials at the sites where the timber is harvested, and make such sites as the collection points. More importantly, the study recommends that Government should conduct civic education campaigns targeted towards timber producers and exporters, highlighting the benefits of the export taxes to avoid illegal trade and corruption. The study has further revealed that it is possible for the Government to increase the stumpage fee to the levels that would be comparable to the stumpage fees in other countries such as Kenya, South Africa, and Tanzania.
- ItemOpen AccessIntegrating Lesotho economy into the regional automotive value chain : manufacturing of car-seat covers(2015) Sekonyela, Malira Patience; Hartzenberg, TrudiThe purpose of this study was to analyse the Automotive Industry in Southern Africa, to assess how best Lesotho can contribute to this supply chain. This analysis was done to better understand the sector, to identify Lesotho's potential to produce car seat covers for South African automotive assembly plants, and find the best trade policies and programmes to support value chains in the sector. The plan was to assess the possibility for Lesotho made automotive components manufacturers to supply the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs - the main automotive assembly plants), and use the South African Automotive Industry as the entry point for the Lesotho components to penetrate the Regional Automotive Value Chain. The main focus of this study was the manufacturing of car-seat covers to supply the seven Original Equipment Manufacturers namely: Volkswagen, BMW, Renault, Toyota, Daimler Chrysler, Ford and Mercedes Benz. The impact of Motor Industry Development Programme (MIDP) and Automotive Production and Development Programme (APDP) on the industry was assessed. The impact of the APDP on relocation of components manufacturers to other Southern African Customs Union (SACU) countries was assessed, Lesotho being used as a case study. It set out to find out if Lesotho firms have the potential to contribute to the automotive value chains through manufacture of car seat covers.
- ItemOpen AccessInvocation of international trade agreements by private parties before domestic courts : a Namibian perspective(2015) Hakweenda, Lydia; Erasmus, GerhardThis dissertation discusses research undertaken on the topic of whether private parties have locus standi to invoke international trade agreements through Namibian courts. The study investigates how effective domestic courts are in adjudicating on matters pertaining to international trade law in Namibia and within other jurisdictions such as regional economic communities. There are two main objectives for this dissertation. Firstly, the capacity of Namibian courts to adjudicate on matters involving international trade law will be assessed. Secondly, the domestic courts' provision of effective redress to private parties in the event of violations of international trade agreements by Member States (in the absence of regional tribunals that grant private parties legal standing alongside Member States) will be assessed. The research has revealed that since Namibia became independent in 1990, there has been very little research undertaken on the effectiveness of the Namibian courts in adjudicating on disputes relating to international trade law. Human rights matters, on the other hand, have come before local courts. These cases will be examined but the different nature of trade issues has to be recognized. This study has further revealed that although Namibia and other States in Southern Africa grant locus standi to private parties to invoke international trade agreements before domestic courts, the adjudication by domestic courts of such issues depends on the constitutional structure of the States involved. The study identified the advantages and disadvantages in allowing domestic courts to play an active role in matters of international trade law. In dealing with the challenges associated with domestic courts adjudicating on such matters, regional and global issues have to be taken into account. This type of jurisprudence is still in its infancy.
- ItemOpen AccessNamibia and SADC free trade area : maximising export opportunities?(2015) Halwoodi, Josef; Kalenga, PaulThe SADC Treaty 1992 established the Southern African Development Community (SADC) with the purpose of building an integrated regional economic community. The approach taken is to conclude Protocols in each area of co-operation. In the areas of economic and trade liberalization, a Protocol on Trade entered into force in 2000. The purpose of the Protocol is to establish a free trade area (FTA). The SADC FTA was formally launched in August 2008, when twelve SADC Member States phased out their tariffs covering substantial all intra-SADC trade. Namibia has been part of the SADC FTA since its inception. This research study examines the SADC FTA and its importance to Namibia by assessing the extent to which the SADC FTA has maximized export opportunities for Namibia to the region. It also identifies existing constraints that Namibia's exporters have been experiencing in accessing the SADC market, and provides recommendations on how Namibia can further exploit market opportunities created by the SADC FTA.
- ItemOpen AccessOrganisational ventriloquism in a project centered organization : a qualitative inquiry into the effects of ritualized mimeticisomorphism within a project centered organization(2015) Steyn, Keegan; Sewchurran, KosheekThe management of projects has been area of intense study for many years, yet few researchers have ventured outside parameters of the mainstream concerns. This research aims to move outside the parameters of mainstream project management research, in order to explore other perspectives, with the purpose of illuminating new concerns and agendas. An abductive research strategy within a single case study was utilized to obtain rich data and new insights. This research seeks to uncover the social forces that influence the adoption of mainstream project and programme management standards and structures. The literature revealed that mainstream project management has idealogical foundations rooted within a 'Cartesian-Taylorist' paradigm and these have affected the development of programme management. The empirical findings indicated that a superficial understanding existed regarding the motivation for the adoption of project management standards and structures, within the case company. In addition, it was noted that the adoption of these project management standards and structures was perceived to provide more control and legitimacy. A consequence of these practices, within the case organization, is that it created a strong resource dependence on external consultants. The theoretical explanations illuminated that the desire for control, reducing uncertainty and the need for competitiveness serve as social forces towards the adoption of mainstream project and programme management standards and structures. Furthermore, the research explored the consequences of this phenomenon, within the case organisation.
- ItemOpen AccessPerspectives from the private sector on the trade facilitation tools and instruments being implemented in SADC and COMESA : a case of Malawi(2015) Biliwita, Chifundo; Mwanza, WilliamThe researcher observed that little or no attention was being paid to the realities and experiences that the Malawian private sector faced when using various Trade Facilitation (TF) measures being implemented by Malawi within the context of Southern African Development Community (SADC) and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and when trading within the SADC and COMESA regions. Notable gaps were identified in the overall TF management process in Malawi. This study made an assessment of each TF measure that Malawi introduced and implemented within the context of SADC and COMESA, analysing its benefits and challenges from a private-sector perspective. Questionnaires and interviews were used to get in-depth, objective and honest perspective from the private sector on these TF measures. The findings of the study revealed that the various TF measures implemented brought: universal and common tariff coding and measurement units for goods; certainty and predictability in the classification of goods; speedy release of goods; reduced delays in transit time; preferential rates of duty for the private sector. Other anticipated results include a further reduction in insurance and bond costs and faster sharing of information, once other measures are fully implemented. In brief, most TF measures reduced the cost of doing business. However, challenges were also found and they included: limited and selective awareness and involvement of the private sector during both consultation and implementation of the TF instruments; unharmonised implementation of the TF measures; notable lack of trust between customs and trade community; notable delays in implementation of some measures; no post-mortem and audit of the TF measures to check and confirm the successes and challenges that the TF measures have brought into the trade chain; poor selection and management of stakeholders to involve; secretive acts over TF information; and weaknesses in the legal frameworks of SADC and COMESA. A further analysis of these issues is presented in chapter four and chapter five.
- ItemOpen AccessRules of origin for services in economic integration agreements : a case study of SADC(2015) Naidu, Vahini; Cronjé, J BThe origin of services is increasingly relevant against the backdrop of technological innovation and global value chains. Rules of origin for trade in services are especially important in Economic Integration Agreements, which are proliferating in response to the changes in global trade and production. The Southern African Development Community commenced the Protocol on Trade in Services negotiations in April 2012 with the objective of creating an integrated regional market for services. This study examines the current and dominant approaches to the formulation of rules of origin for trade in services in twenty five (25) Economic Integration Agreements with the purpose of making recommendations, to develop further, the definition of "substantial business operations" for the SADC Protocol on Trade in Services. It concludes, first, that the type best suited for SADC is a rule of origin designed to address broader socio-economic goals in the region. Second, the criteria used to define substantial business operations in the Mainland-Hong Kong, China CEPA provides a basis which SADC can consider as a key determinant of origin, in order to prevent free-riders from benefiting from the trade preferences under the SADC Protocol on Trade in Services. Lastly, the effectiveness of rules of origin will depend on domestic regulation and regional monitoring, evaluation and enforcement mechanisms to support and regulate investments in the services sectors.
- ItemOpen AccessStrengthening Parliament's oversight role during international trade negotiations: A grounded theory approach(2016) Sheldon, Margot; Shelley, ElancaThe Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (hereafter referred to as "the Constitution"), outlines the different roles and functions of the arms of government, namely the Executive, Judiciary and Legislature. In terms of international agreements, Section 231 of the Constitution provides the parameters within which the Executive and the Legislature are responsible for when entering into international agreements. The Executive is responsible for negotiating and signing all international agreements, which must then be approved by the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces in order to be ratified. Furthermore, the Constitution requires the Legislature to oversee the work of the Executive. In this regard, Parliament, as the representative of the people of South Africa, has a duty to ensure that even international agreements will benefit the citizenry and not undermine national objectives. However, due to the democratic principle of separation of powers, Parliament has little control over the outcomes of the negotiations which the Executive undertakes on behalf of the nation. Signed international agreements may not always be in the national interest. In these instances, Parliament cannot alter the terms of the agreement. It can at best approve this for ratification with reservations or reject it once it has been tabled. Several challenges arise in relation to the approval for ratification of international agreements. This is primarily related to Parliament's capacity and the time available to consider signed agreements, and its knowledge and understanding of the content and implications of international agreements. This study, therefore, considers how Parliament can effectively oversee developments during international trade negotiations. This is to circumvent situations where the trade agreements do not support national strategic objectives. A grounded theory approach was used to develop a theory on how to strengthen Parliament's oversight role during international trade negotiations. Grounded theory is a qualitative research method, which uses a mainly inductive approach. Data was gathered through conversational interviewing with a number of stakeholders such as Members of Parliament and parliamentary officials, as well as technical and nontechnical literature. These were analysed to develop key concepts or variables. Next, a literature review was conducted to determine the parent body of knowledge within which the research study falls. This process yielded further variables. It also assisted in determining the linkages between the key concepts. Finally, I undertook a theory building process to determine the relationships between the key concepts and the key concern variable. From the analysis, this study proposes that the Executive and Members of Parliament need to understand the importance and relevance of holding the Executive accountable for its actions in relation to international trade negotiations. Once this is clearly established, there will be an incentive to develop institutional capacity to perform oversight over this type of Executive action. This enhanced capacity will lead to more effective oversight over the Executive's involvement during international trade negotiations and thus greater accountability by the Executive to ensure that these negotiations support national strategic objectives.
- ItemOpen AccessA study to clarify the role of customs risk management in facilitating cross-border trade at the Beit-Bridge border post : a case of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority from 2001 to 2014(2015) Mafurutu, Rwatida; Erasmus, GerhardThis study sought to clarify the role of Customs Risk Management (CRiM) in facilitating cross-border trade at Beit Bridge border post from 2001 to 2014. Qualitative methods of survey questionnaire and face-to-face interviewing techniques were used to gather primary data. Secondary data was collected from the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA)'s internal sources such as Asycuda System and internal reports. Externally, sources like internet and research findings from other researchers in the same field were used. An in-depth literature review was done so as to simplify the research problem. Data analysis and presentation was done using diagrams, graphs and tables where applicable. The following research findings were then critically discussed in light of the literature reviewed: On the role of CRiM Training in cross-border trade facilitation, the study revealed that an overwhelming majority had not received any form of specialized training on CRiM or some form of work-related CRiM Training in the last 2 years. There exist a strong demand for CRiM Training in risk intelligence gathering, risk audit techniques and risk profiling. A majority, 93% of the respondents confirmed that ZIMRA's Strategic Plan makes some form of reference to CRiM. However, 73% of this majority, indicated that there is a greater and urgent need for management to provide operational staff with CRiM tactical implementation guidelines for easy of enforcement on the ground. 87% said the main purpose of applying CRiM in Customs procedures was mainly to maximize revenue collection ahead of trade facilitation. 76% expressed the same view with regards to use of Information Communication and Technology (ICT) in the procedures. 100% said the level of co-operation on exchange of ICT-based risk related information exchange between ZIMRA and other government departments was almost nil. In response to these findings, the study recommends that ZIMRA: continuously offer CRiM Training to its operational staff over short periods of time in a single year, effectively make use of CRiM techniques such as intelligence gathering, risk profiling, risk auditing techniques in identifying high risk cargo, and to eradicate lack of confidence in the flexible use of existing ICT systems among staff by giving them further training. According to this study, benefits of implementing these recommendations will be: increased revenue collection, reduced border clearance time, reduced costs of compliance, rationalized customs controls and predictability in the nature and level of controls all in the best interest of trade facilitation.