Published by the government of Zimbabwe
17 July 2007
Harare — OZONE-DEPLETING substances are now being trafficked the world over, with Zimbabwean authorities confirming they are being smuggled into the country owing to demand in the agriculture and industrial sectors.
The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority said smugglers always have new tricks to import the illegal substances.
Mr Lameck Tatswareyi, responsible for training at Zimra, said some of the gases and chemicals currently being phased out are easily smuggled into the country because they come in very small quantities.
"All that is needed to run a fridge is chlorofluorocarbon in the size of a cigarette container. This shows how much could be smuggled into the country on a weekly basis," Mr Tatswareyi said.
The country is currently battling to phase out the use of methyl bromide in the production of tobacco seedlings and other agricultural processes.
Zimbabwe is also expected to have terminated the use chemicals such as halons used in fire-fighting and CFCs in refrigeration by 2009.
But Mr Tatswareyi said this has triggered more complications and created new illegal markets.
"Smugglers are smart people who could do anything to bring into the country what sells fast and brings good money."
He said customs officials were now aware of all smuggling methods, which included hiding small tanks in large tanks.
"We discovered that in the case of gases and chemicals, commercial smugglers were putting wrong labels on containers leading to the 'misclassification' of substances brought into the country. It was a smart way until we discovered the trick," Mr Tatswareyi said.
He said the authority in the last few months had embarked on an awareness programme, which saw 26 officers from various border posts receiving training to help them identify ozone-depleting substances.
"It is difficult to stop smuggling completely but now our officers are able to identify the substances using methods we have taught them."
Secretary for Environment and Tourism Mrs Margaret Sangarwe yesterday said that in line with the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer, Zimbabwe was making efforts to phase out the use of 96 chemicals.
"These chemicals are used in refrigeration, air-conditioning, soil and commodity fumigation, fire-fighting, as aerosol propellants, as foam blowing and cleaning agents and in the manufacture of other chemicals," she said.
Mrs Sangarwe said Zimbabwe does not produce any of the ozone-depleting substances but relies on imports, making the training of customs officials critical.
"Customs officers were trained and equipped with skills to monitor and combat illegal trade in ozone-depleting substances. We hope the training will see significant reduction of mainly CFCs' baseline consumption."
Mrs Sangarwe said protection of the pale blue stratosphere, which protects all living creatures on earth from ultra-violet radiation, is one of the critical global environment challenges.
"By ensuring we protect the delicate layer, we minimise loss of bio-diversity, combat desertification and mitigate global warming impacts," she said.
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