Rolling out the WCO e-learning programme in Zimbabwe

November 2009

A Workshop to roll out the WCO e-learning programme was held from 26 to 30 October 2009 within the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) Training Centre, which also plays host to the Regional Training Centre (RTC) for the East and Southern Africa region.

This mission was aimed at installing the WCO e-learning mechanism and courses on the Zimbabwe Administration’s IT infrastructure, as well as training the staff in its use and planning the subsequent stages of the roll-out with them.

The training system roll-out will commence with an in-house ZIMRA test phase whereby the Administration’s new intake will be taught during their basic training session. The online courses will be used in tandem with the customary traditional training techniques. Subject to the outcome of this pilot training, the system will be opened up to all officials who will enjoy independent access to the programme, customized to national characteristics, if need be, by teams of trainers and experts from the Administration.

The medium-term objective is also to assist with regionalization of training, a key chapter of the WCO’s Capacity Building Strategy, by enabling the RTC to tailor and deliver the programme to the region’s administrations.

The programme was officially launched during a ceremony on Friday 30 October 2009, attended by the ZIMRA management as a whole, including the Chairperson of the Board and the Commissioner General, together with representatives of the Zimbabwe Ministry of Finance.