Excitement is building about the October 6 opening of revamped facilities by Zimborders at Beitbridge, a move that will hopefully unplug bottlenecks at the notoriously congested crossing.
Tariffs for using the build-operator-transfer concession company’s facilities will be as follows: $100, $300, and $175 respectively for heavy vehicles, abnormal load rigs, and general goods vehicles.
A Zimborders notification has also stated the following: “Card facilities for payment of the border access toll fee will only become available (at the) end of October.
“Cash payments will only be accepted in the Freight Terminal building at the Zimborders counter.
“For the prepaid voucher option, please contact Korridor (https://korridor.com/contactus).”
Transporters have also been notified, courtesy of the Federation of East and Southern African Road Transport Associations, that only US dollars will be accepted and that the tariffs provided exclude VAT.
Zimborders has implored cross-border hauliers to make sure their drivers have the necessary currency in cash to pay toll fees.
“Credit cards and prepaid vouchers will not be accepted for the first week of go-live,” the concessionaire said.
The card facility issue has caused some annoyance among transporters and clearing agents, one of whom stated that “cash payments are part of our delay problems”.
They asked whether it was possible to come to another arrangement until account options have been set up.
The VAT issue has also been raised, especially among non-Zimbabwean hauliers, who wanted to know why they should have to pay VAT if they’re not registered in that country.
Essentially, it means that for a general goods truck the toll will be $200, $25 of which can be claimed back upon the southbound backhaul journey into South Africa.
Transporters unhappy about this arrangement say they foresee queueing problems to reclaim VAT.
