Cargo flow between Mozambique and Zambia: CTA seeks solutions for road hauliers

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Cargo flow between Mozambique and Zambia: CTA seeks solutions for road hauliers

11:18 CAT | 22 Sep 2022

Photo: CTA

The CTA, accompanied by its member ASTROS (Associação dos Transportes Rodoviários de Sofala), met officials from the Zambian Embassy in Mozambique in search of solutions to the problems raised by road freight transporters in Mozambique in connection with new tariffs introduced by the Zambian government, and which disadvantage Mozambican operators.

These ‘Migration’ fees, implemented in June this year, are levied on drivers who enter Zambia after accumulating 90 days, and amount to 9000 kwachas (around 40,000 meticais) for each additional entry. Zambians are not required to pay any such fee to enter Mozambique.

These and other measures introduced by the Government of the Republic of Zambia are only applicable to foreign nationals.

In addition to migration fees, other measures that concern Mozambican transporters have to do with the Zambian ban on foreign trucks having fuel reserve tanks, thereby forcing them to purchase fuel in Zambian territory, and the simultaneous introduction of a mandatory road tax and toll fees.

These measures are seen as ways to protect Zambian hauliers to the detriment of foreigners, especially Mozambicans, who, besides the time lost, see an increase in operating costs of around 15%, making freight transport to Zambia
unsustainable.

“We believe that these measures greatly affect the competitiveness in the activity of national and regional road freight transport. They should go through concertation at the level of SADC bodies, aiming to safeguard the process of construction and implementation of protocols relating to regional integration, especially with regard to the creation of business facilities between member states,” the president of ASTROS said. He also requested flexibility and the reduction of police checkpoints in both countries.

In addition to discouraging road haulage operators from servicing neighbouring countries, the actions of the Zambian government violate agreements it has signed in relation to the policies adopted by the SADC in the field of road transport, by which member states agree to develop a harmonized transport policy which safeguards the principles of equal treatment, non-discrimination, reciprocity, fair competition and harmonized operating conditions, and which promotes the creation of an integrated road transport system in the region.

Source: CTA / Media Release