Transport industry targets ‘cabotage poachers’

Moves afoot to harmonise weighbridges Kevin Mayhew A MAJOR problem faced by the Zambian transport industry is the tendency for outside companies to poach cabotage opportunities – thus denying established local players an opportunity to reduce the number of empty trips that generate no revenue. This is one of the major local issues being addressed at the highest level of government, according to the chairman of the Federation of Roadhauliers (Fedhaul), Lusaka-based Roland Norton. Apart from this issue Fedhaul's concerns are very much in line with those of the South African Road Freight Association (RFA) – Aids and overloading – which are regional issues. Fedhaul represents the landlocked country at vital forums to facilitate southern African transport reform and expansion, including sitting on the Federation of South African Transport Organisations (Fosato). Representing 38 members, it has good relationships with all stakeholders, including the Zambian government, to tackle issues that hamper transport development, according to Norton. “At a government level we have good contacts and co-operation. We generally find that they are receptive to approaches about issues like overloading. This new drive to combat overloading assumed greater urgency after the 2003 Kazangula Ferry disaster which resulted in six deaths. It was found that the ferry was 100% overloaded,” Norton added. To try to tackle the overloading issue, Fedhaul is actively trying to harmonise weighbridges so that there is consistency across borders.