State-of-the art staging facility on the Zambia-DRC border

A new US$ 5-million bonded staging facility situated 400 metres from the Zambia-side boom at the Kasumbalesa border post is reducing transit times between the two countries. This 12 000-sqm warehouse and staging facility is equipped with a 24-metre weighbridge and protected by 24-hour-a-day security, according to Ruud Walgaard of Reload Logistics. The facility is designed to transfer breakbulk cargo, bagged cargo, copper anodes and blisters between trucks registered in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia or other countries in the region. Road freight in the DRC is de facto carried only by vehicles registered in that country. With the new facility shippers are given a choice of which ports to use for exports and imports. Trucks have been turned around fully loaded with new cargo in an hour and 20 minutes, Walgaard says. The cargo is stored on site when the arrival of vehicles is not synchronised, or when it needs to be cleared through customs. Cargo is pre-cleared by Reload Logistics, which provides on-site customs brokerage services. Hauliers benefit because their equipment is kept on the road rather than waiting for clearance, says Walgaard who with his partner Rubi Sabag have a combined 25 years of experience working on the Zambia- DRC route. “It is because we understand the route so well that we were able to identify the need for the facility at the border post,” says Sabag. INSERT & CAPTION With the new facility shippers are given a choice of which ports to use for exports and imports. – Ruud Walgaard CAPTION The new Reload bond staging facility at the Kasumbalesa border post.