Operations at the Groblersbrug Border Post could be restored faster than expected, cross-border industry source Kage Barnett has said.
The important Limpopo River transit was recently flooded, leading to the evacuation of border personnel from the important crossing into Botswana.
As a result, long-distance hauliers serving the mining industry in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo were forced to use transits further south of Groblersbrug, Kopfontein and Skilpadshek on the Trans-Kalahari Corridor.
According to Barnett, even Ramatlabama Border Post north of Mafeking was used as an alternative into Botswana, “although it’s out of the way”.
It is understood that truck traffic heading north towards the Copperbelt also picked up at Beitbridge Border Post, although tankers most likely avoided the North-South route through Zimbabwe because of in-transit fuel duties charged by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority.
Mike Fitzmaurice, regional vice-president of the African Union’s Organisation for Transport and Logistics, said although the duties were refundable on exiting Zimbabwe at Chirundu, the country’s banking system was ill-equipped to be fair to transporters.
He said the waiting time for tanker traffic and the related costs involved meant most tankers would continue driving through Botswana to the Kazangula Bridge across the Zambezi.
Barnett said some of the problems that had been experienced because of the closure of Groblersbrug were at Kopfontein and Skilpadshek, where the additional influx of diverted trucks was not expected.
He said since the water of the swollen Limpopo had been subsiding, Eskom had already been to Groblersbrug to repair damaged infrastructure and energy equipment for the resumption of Customs procedures.
He added that engineers and related stakeholders were expected on site on the afternoon of January 21 to assess the border’s readiness.
Initial fears were that the border near Lephalale (Ellisras) could be closed until early February.
It appears now that the border could reopen for traffic before the end of the month, if not by week’s end.
