R100 million logjam

A decision by the Zambian
authorities to impound
Namibian trucks carrying
timber from Mukula
trees harvested in the
Democratic Republic of
Congo has cost Namibian
hauliers R100 million since
February, according to a
toughly worded statement
by the Namibian Chamber
of Commerce and Industry.
As a representative body
for businesses in Namibia,
we demand the immediate
release of our trucks
unconditionally,” says chief
executive officer Tarah
Shaanika in the statement.
“We further urge the
Zambian and all other
governments that are
party to the Walvis Bay
- Ndola - Lubumbashi
Development Corridor
agreement to adhere to this
agreement strictly in order
to ensure that the corridor
plays its rightful role in
the development of trade
within SADC.
“The timber crisis that
we are now experiencing
could have been avoided
if there was effective
communication amongst
SADC member states and
especially the signatories
to the Walvis Bay – Ndola –
Lubumbashi Development
Corridor Agreement.
“The Zambian
government implemented
laws affecting the
operations on the corridor
without consulting other
member states as required
by the agreement they
signed in Livingstone in
March 2010.
“In fact, the Zambian
government has violated
that very same agreement,”
he says.
According to Shaanika
the transport of other
goods has been affected
because the timber was
helping to reduce the costs
of using the corridor by
providing a return load.
“There is clear evidence
of the impact of the
impounding of our trucks
on the transport and
logistics sector in Namibia.
“There is currently a lot
of cargo that cannot be
transported out of the Port
of Walvis Bay due to lack of
trucks because so many of
them are kept standing in
Zambia,” says Shaanika.
CAPTION
Timber from Mukula trees ... Zambia has banned the
movement of the timber from the country.