The unexpected growth in cargo volumes in the SADC region has resulted in major bottlenecks at the borders in particular – and delays translate into significant additional costs. James Botha of Southern African Cargo Logistics believes that finding solutions to these bottlenecks is critical – especially since most of the continent’s breakbulk cargo moves by road rather than rail. Kuba Naiken, managing director of Trans Med Shipping, agrees, but he says while bottlenecks at border posts are not unique to Africa, the cost impact on project and breakbulk cargo on the continent is massive. “Here we also have to deal with the impact of corruption, mismanagement, limited trading hours at border posts and inadequate infrastructure – not just in terms of road and rail, but at the posts themselves.” He said with cargo volumes continuing to increase, more and more border posts were struggling to handle the volumes. “Africa needs to set its own milestones,” he said, “and then work towards achieving them.” According to Barbara Mommen, chief executive officer of the Maputo Corridor Logistics Initiative (MCLI), there is no easy or quick solution to border bottlenecks. “Many believe the establishment of one-stop border posts is the way forward, but that is a long-term solution as there are very complex legal and bilateral agreements between governments in Africa.” Citing South Africa and Mozambique as an example she said heads of state had already met and approved a 24-hour working border post between the two countries in 2007. “We have not even reached that target five years later as it is still only an 18-hour border post. It is a complex process that requires both countries involved to be on the same page at the same time.” While Mozambique has been ready to move its operations to 24 hours a day, there has been a holdup on the South African side. But it is now at the point where Sars has advised Cabinet on the importance of having 24-hour border operations and even a one-stop border. “They are now getting ratification in South Africa. One has to consider that the infrastructure has to be changed for a one-stop border post while there are also sometimes seven to eight different government departments involved in the process in both countries.” While the red tape often holds up the process, borders in Africa are not technologically on par. “In South Africa Customs modernisation has made a major difference. Where trucks sat for two sometimes even more days at a border post they are now moving through within an hour if their documentation is correct,” said Mommen. “But Mozambique does not have that, so the truck driver has to disembark to get clearance, causing a delay.” While experts believe that modernisation and electronic systems may bring an end to bottlenecks, they say it will only be possible if neighbouring countries are able to use compatible technology. Botha says to really move cargo faster at borders one needs to implement systems that are able to work across borders and that reduce human interface. CAPTION James Botha … huge additional costs.
