Consolidators lose out as cargo moves by bus

Cargo that should go to
consolidators has been moved
to buses and this is becoming
a critical issue for us,” says Christine
Gerber, chairperson of the Zimbabwe
Clearing Agents Board.
The buses are not only loaded
with cargo on empty passenger seats,
they are also pulling 40 foot containers
loaded to capacity with luggage and
other baggage. But even more extreme
are buses with cargo loaded metres
high on top of them. “It takes hours for
this cargo to be inspected as it needs to
be unloaded and then reloaded again,”
says Gerber.
She notes that the need for the
separation and classification of
buses is critical. “We need to know
which of these buses contains
business clients as opposed to tourists
as it affects the turnaround time
of buses significantly and adds
considerably to the delays experienced
at the border post.”