Last week’s surprise announcement that the Federation of East and Southern African Road Transport Associations (Fesarta) could close its doors at the end of February has sent shock waves through the industry. Executive director Barney Curtis, who has headed up the organisation for the past 15 years and played a crucial role in a range of regional transport negotiations, will end his association with the organisation on February 28. “After that date I will carry out the necessary functions, as required by the Fesarta members to either hand the association over to a different scenario or to close it down. As I don’t have guidance yet, the way forward is still to be determined,” he told FTW. The announcement triggered a flurry of emails from around the continent calling for clarity on succession plans and underscoring the critical role that Fesarta has played and needs to play in regional harmonisation. But without the funds, the organisation cannot continue – and that’s the crux of the issue. It’s been an uphill battle since inception and Curtis has tried a number of options – from corporate membership to overseas funding – but neither has produced the necessary results. The organisation has therefore relied on revenue derived from membership fees from the 14 member countries to cover basic necessities. The SA Road Freight Association pays $1300 a year in membership fees. As the biggest association, Curtis believes it should have been making a more substantial contribution, but this was an RFA Board decision, said RFA spokesman Gavin Kelly. Along with the rest of the industry Kelly acknowledges the relevance of the organisation. “We need someone who has knowledge of operating in those countries,” he told FTW. But as to the way forward, there are no answers right now. “As things stand we’ll have to make sure we keep in contact with our neighbouring associations and deal with issues and problems on an ad hoc basis. This may change if someone is prepared to fund it, but getting funding from corporates or overseas agencies hasn’t been successful.” Right now Curtis wants to make sure that he leaves the organisation in good order. “It has incredible potential and I want to make sure that it keeps going,” he told FTW. “Anyone who takes it on needs to do so voluntarily until adequate funding, from whatever sources, is sufficient to pay reasonable remuneration. You need someone who can make it sustainable without relying on membership.” For the past 15 years, Curtis has been driven by passion and commitment and has earned huge industry respect for his efforts. The organisation has closely monitored problems faced by truckers along the main corridors, border issues and legislation related to Non- Tariff Barriers – but it’s in the area of harmonisation that it has made huge inroads. “Fesarta has become an important part of the architecture for the achievement of regional integration in the Tripartite of Comesa, EAC and SADC,” said Lovemore Bingandadi, technical adviser of the Tripartite, Transport and Trade Facilitation Programme [TTTFP], based in Botswana. “We need to be assured of continuity. Should Fesarta fail to provide such continuity, then there is the risk that 15 years of efforts that have been invested at great cost will be in jeopardy.” “Barney is Fesarta and Fesarta is Barney,” SA Shippers’ Council CEO Brenda Horne-Ferreira told FTW. “He deserves all the possible accolades for the 15 years that Fesarta has been a loud and knowledgeable voice for truckers across borders. “What will it take to understand that alone as individuals, corridors and associations we will not be as successful as we can be when we work together?” While Curtis has made no firm decisions about his future plans, the editorial team at FTW will miss his informed and articulate commentary on issues of relevance across the African continent.
