Progress is being made in harmonising regulations and systems on the road corridor from Walvis Bay to Gauteng, says Trans Kalahari Corridor Secretariat (TKCS) executive director Leslie Mlungisi Mpofu. Working groups have started meeting in person again, and this has helped speed up the harmonisation processes, he told Freight News. Among the issues identified during Working Group meetings is the need for standard operating procedures and regulations across the three countries.One of the focus areas is roadblock checkpoints. TKCS is coordinating efforts for uniform procedures to be followed at roadblocks in all three countries, so truck drivers will know what to expect and what the correct procedures are. “Truck drivers should be given the same treatment in all TKC states.“We have also agreed that we need standardised weighbridges. Some weighbridges on the route are still single deck and we want all of them to be multi-deck in order to remove any ambiguities,” says Mpofu.Another priority area is the harmonisation of driver blood alcohol content, where the limits are different across the three countries. There have been instances where a driver can be compliant in one country, but non-compliant when they cross the border into a neighbouring state. “We believe professional drivers need not be treated differently throughout the corridor, with preferably a zero blood alcohol limit allowed.” Harmonisation of regulations on the corridor will add to its appeal to cargo owners and their agents, he believes.According to Mpofu, the corridor’s main selling point is its ef f icienc y. He says freight can be delivered in Gaborone just two days after it lands in Walvis Bay. The port is not congested and there is very little traffic on the road. Additionally, the infrastructure itself is wide and open. “It is also a very safe and secure corridor. We now have truck stops in Zeerust, Mamuno, and a mini truck stop in Kang, Botswana,” he told Freight News. “Having an institution to drive and coordinate the various initiatives is also a plus for the corridor.“Unlike many other corridor initiatives in Africa, there is a memorandum of understanding between the three countries, which has led to the establishment of the TKCS. The TKCS has offices, skilled staff and resources.”The message is getting through, and volumes are climbing back to pre-Covid levels says Mpofu.
