WCO ESA Regional Office for Capacity Building - ROCB

The 32nd WCO ESA Governing Council Meeting

Zanzibar, Tanzania.

14th- 15th May 2026

The 32nd World Customs Organization (WCO) Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) Governing Council Meeting officially commenced in Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania, bringing together Heads of Delegation from 18 Member Administrations, Regional Economic Communities, development partners, and private sector representatives to deliberate on the implementation of the ESA Regional Strategy 2025–2028 and key regional customs priorities. The meeting is focusing on strengthening regional collaboration, advancing Customs modernization, and ensuring that regional discussions translate into measurable impact across the ESA region.

• WCO Engagements with Vice Chairs.
• ROCB Annual report 2025/2026
• Report from the 43rd RSG 2026.
• Finance and Governance Committee Report.
• Update on establishment of the ESA Regional Customs Laboratory (RCL).
• WCO reports
• Regional Private Sector Report.
• Vacant positions in ESA and WCO.

The meeting was officially opened by the Minister for Finance, His Excellency Ambassador Khamis M***a Omar, and attended by distinguished leaders, including the WCO Secretary General, Ian Saunders; the WCO ESA Vice Chair, Dr. Johnstone Makhubu; the Commissioner General of the TRA Tanzania, Yusuph Juma; and the Director of the WCO ESA Regional Office for Capacity Building, Josephine Manyasi. Delegates reaffirmed the importance of collective regional action in addressing emerging Customs challenges and advancing trade facilitation, digital transformation, and sustainable Customs reforms across the ESA region.

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The 43rd WCO ESA Regional Steering Group Meeting– Zanzibar, Tanzania.

11th - 13th May 2026

The World Customs Organization ESA 43rd Regional Steering Group (RSG) Meeting officially commenced in Zanzibar, Tanzania, bringing together technical experts from 18 Member Administrations, Regional Economic Communities, development partners, and private sector representatives to deliberate on the implementation of the ESA Regional Strategy 2025–2028 and key regional customs priorities.

In his opening remarks, Guest of Honour and Commissioner General of the Tanzania Revenue Authority, Mr. Yusuph Juma Mwenda, reaffirmed the importance of regional cooperation in advancing customs modernization within the ESA region. He highlighted the role of innovation, transparency, and data-driven approaches in strengthening customs operations and facilitating legitimate trade, while encouraging Member Administrations to collectively address emerging challenges such as illicit trade, smuggling, and the increasing complexity of trade procedures through practical and sustainable regional solutions. He further encouraged delegates to engage in fruitful deliberations that would provide actionable recommendations for the upcoming Governing Council meeting.

Chairperson of the RSG Meeting, Mr. Coffet Lebepe, conveyed appreciation to the TRA Tanzania, the WCO ESA ROCB, development partners, and regional stakeholders for their continued support towards customs capacity building and regional cooperation. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a coordinated regional approach guided by the strategic objectives of the ESA Regional Strategy and encouraged delegates to focus on practical, measurable, and solution-oriented outcomes that will strengthen customs modernization, governance, and regional collaboration.

Representing the WCO, Mr. Motohiro Fujimitsu, expressed appreciation to the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania through Tanzania Revenue Authority for hosting the regional engagements. He highlighted the importance of collaboration, sustainable capacity building, and measurable impact in advancing customs modernization, noting that the discussions on risk management, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and capacity building measurement align with the WCO’s newly approved Capacity Building Paradigm and broader modernization agenda. He reaffirmed the WCO’s continued commitment to supporting the ESA region through strategic partnerships and regional initiatives.
Director, WCO ESA ROCB, Mrs. Josephine Manyasi, conveyed appreciation to the Tanzania Revenue Authority for hosting the regional meetings and reaffirmed the importance of the Regional Steering Group as a platform for strengthening partnerships, fostering knowledge sharing, and advancing sustainable capacity building initiatives aligned with regional priorities.

The deliberations are focusing on the implementation of the ESA Regional Strategy 2025–2028, sustainable revenue mobilization and digitalization, Artificial Intelligence (AI) in risk management and compliance, measurement of capacity building impact, and the Regional Partnership Model aimed at strengthening customs modernization and regional cooperation across the ESA region.

The WCO ESA Regional entities-ROCB/Regional Training Centres (RTC)/ Regional Intelligence Liaison Office (RILO) Heads Meeting – Zanzibar, Tanzania.

07th- 08th May 2026

The WCO ESA RTC/RILO Heads Meeting is currently underway in Zanzibar, Tanzania, graciously hosted by the TRA Tanzania. The meeting brings together Heads of RTCs from Kenya, Mauritius, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, alongside the ROCB and the RILO, to review progress of the capacity building activities in alignment to the ESA Regional Strategy 2025–2028.

The meeting commenced with welcoming remarks from the Commissioner for Customs and Excise Tanzania, Juma B. Hassan, who warmly welcomed delegates and underscored the importance of the RTC Heads Meeting in advancing regional Customs development and strengthening capacity building across the ESA region. He emphasized that under the theme “Action to Impact,” capacity building must focus on sustainability, measurable outcomes, and equipping Customs officers with the skills needed to respond to emerging challenges in an increasingly digital Customs environment. He further highlighted professionalism, digitalization, trade facilitation, and stronger engagement with the private sector as key drivers for improving compliance, and regional collaboration, and called on delegates to come up with a clear way forward for the regional capacity building.

The Deputy Commissioner Zanzibar, Saleh Pandu, extended warm hospitality on behalf of the Tanzania Revenue Authority and the people of Tanzania, assuring delegates of the full support of the host administration throughout the meeting. He encouraged delegates to engage in productive deliberations aimed at advancing regional Customs cooperation and capacity development.

Dr. Emmah Omwenga, representing the Chairperson of the ESA RTC Heads (Kenya), conveyed appreciation to the Government and people of United Republic of Tanzania for their warm hospitality. She reaffirmed the central role of capacity building in strengthening Customs administrations. She highlighted the importance of practical and regionally responsive training programmes in enhancing technical competencies and supporting Customs modernization across the region.

The Director of the WCO ESA ROCB, Josephine Manyasi, reaffirmed the strategic role of the Regional Training Centres in delivering the regional capacity building agenda in alignment with the new WCO Capacity Building Paradigm, noting that continued collaboration among RTCs and regional partners remains essential in strengthening Customs professionalism, technical expertise, and preparedness to address emerging Customs priorities. She also commended the Tanzania Revenue Authority for successfully hosting the engagement and for its continued commitment to regional cooperation.

The deliberations are focusing on sharing the progress made by the ESA regional entities towards the implementation of the ESA Regional Strategy 2025–2028, Implementation of World Customs Organization (WCO) tools and instruments and development of the AfCFTA joint Customs Curriculum. The meeting is expected to provide strategic direction for regional Customs capacity building and further reinforce the RTC network’s role in driving sustainable Customs modernization across the ESA region in line with World Customs Organization (WCO) standards and procedures.

30th ESA Finance and Governance Committee (FGC) Meeting.

The 30th meeting of the WCO ESA Finance and Governance Committee (FGC) took place at the ROCB offices on the 16th and 17th April 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya. The meeting was chaired by Mrs. Ethel Chitanda (Zimbabwe) and brought together Heads of Finance from Ms. Kabanyane Tladi (Lesotho), Mr. Dieudonne Nduwayezu Burundi, and Mr. Chilebe Charles (Zambia), alongside the Director of the WCO ESA ROCB, Mrs. Josephine Manyasi ‘ndc’(K), and ROCB staff. During the meeting, the Committee received and considered the Audited Financial Statements for the 2025/2026 financial year, Governing council decisions implementation update and proposed budget for 2026/2027 financial year.

In her opening remarks, the FGC Chair, Mrs. Ethel Chitanda, underscored the critical role of the Committee in strengthening financial governance, oversight and accountability within the Region. She further noted the prevailing economic challenges across the Region and emphasized that despite these constraints, the ROCB remains firmly committed to delivering on its mandate.
Mrs. Josephine Manyasi, Director of the WCO ESA ROCB, welcomed the Committee Members and provided an update on recent developments, with particular emphasis on the financial implications of implementing the Regional Strategy (2025-2028). She expressed her appreciation for the continued support of the Finance and Governance Committee (FGC) and conveyed greetings from the leadership of the host administration, Kenya, as well as from the ESA Vice-Chair, South Africa.

The Committee engaged in substantive discussions on the region’s financial performance, including the review of audited financial statements, the proposed budget for the upcoming financial year, and the status of membership subscription collections. It also considered progress in implementing key decisions from previous Finance and Governance Committee and Governing Council meetings, alongside updates on human resources, administrative matters and leadership onboarding.

These deliberations underscored the Committee’s continued commitment to transparency, accountability and prudent financial management. As the body responsible for financial oversight within the WCO ESA region the FGC remains instrumental in guiding strategic priorities, strengthening resource mobilization, and ensuring effective alignment with regional Customs capacity-building objectives.

PICTORIAL 📸 : WCO ESA Management Committee Meeting

🗓️ 9th & 10th April 2026

South African Revenue Service (SARS) Fadintseranana Malagasy Kenya Revenue Authority

WCO ESA Management Committee Meeting

The World Customs Organization East and Southern Africa (WCO ESA) Management Committee (MC) meeting took place on 9th & 10th April 2026 at the WCO ESA Regional Office for Capacity Building (ROCB) in Nairobi, Kenya

Attending officials included; Mr. Beyers Theron, Director of Customs and Excise and Vice Chair of the WCO ESA Region (South Africa); Mr. Antoine Randrianjafy, Director General of Customs and Deputy Vice Chair of the ESA Region (Madagascar); Mr. David Ontweka, Deputy Commissioner for Policy and International Affairs and additional Member to the Policy Commission (Kenya); and Mrs. Ethel Chitanda, Chair of the Finance and Governance Committee (Zimbabwe).
Other delegates present were, Ms. Thabile Ntombela, Head of International Cooperation South Africa Revenue Service, Mr. Solomon Mathivhulula, Specialist International Customs, Mrs. Yolande Rahantasoa, Director of Statistics and Accounting, Malagasy Customs, Mr. Hery André Rakotonirina, Director of Legislation and Valuation Malagasy Customs and Mrs. Laura Onyambu, Deputy commissioner Trade facilitation, Customs & Border Control Department, Kenya.

A key focus of the discussions was the implementation of the ESA Regional Strategy, 2025-2028 with particular attention on trade facilitation, revenue mobilization & digitalization, protection of society & environment and enhancing professionalism & Integrity. The Management Committee stressed that these priorities must deliver real benefits to ESA members, including improved compliance and increase in revenue.

The Committee also reaffirmed the strong collaboration between the Regional Office for Capacity Building and regional entities in advancing capacity building across the ESA region, while emphasizing the need to translate the strategy into measurable and tangible outcomes for Member administrations.

The discussions further underscored the importance of leveraging global WCO initiatives and partnerships, including technical assistance on rules of origin and the expansion of e-learning tools, to enhance regional capacity and support effective implementation across Member administrations.

In conclusion, the Committee emphasized the need for strong regional alignment and coordinated engagement with WCO Headquarters, ensuring that ESA priorities are consistently represented and that Members derive maximum benefit from international cooperation and emerging opportunities.

#2026 Kenya Revenue Authority Fadintseranana Malagasy Zimbabwe Revenue Authority - ZIMRA South African Revenue Service (SARS) fans

Eid Mubarak to all our muslim brothers and sisters.

Virtual Reality Assisted Training Program in the ESA Region.

The WCO ESA ROCB had the pleasure of hosting Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Customs & Border Control Officers for an immersive Virtual Reality-Assisted Training (VRT) program. The Customs officers explored the VR kiosk, which provides a 3D interactive experience, enhancing their skills in Customs operations and revenue mobilization compliance.

As part of the training, officers engaged with the Maritime Cargo Clearance module, gaining hands-on experience in cargo inspection and clearance processes. The program also covered the World Customs Organization - Organisation Mondiale des Douanes roles at national, regional, and global levels.

The VRT system, developed in collaboration with WCO Headquarters (Brussels), RTC Korea, Korea Customs Service, CCF-Korea, and HO Entertainment, is designed to support Customs officials in Maritime and Air Cargo Clearance. The training incorporates WCO Risk Management Compendium indicators, ensuring realistic inspection scenarios that enhance officers' decision-making skills.

This initiative reflects the WCO’s commitment to leveraging technology in capacity building for more effective and efficient Customs operations.