Truck detained over exhause pipe 'infrindgement'

The absurdity of cross-border 'infringements' was brought into sharp relief with last week's news of a Zambian transport company whose vehicles had been detained because their exhaust pipes were pointing in the wrong direction. According to information released by the Federation of East and Southern African Road Transport Associations (Fesarta), the company’s six vehicles carrying copper into Zimbabwe were stopped at the Vic Falls weighbridge because “ the exhaust is pointing down to the ground “ and it must be “up in the air “ according to an official on duty. Fesarta executive director Barney Curtis told FTW the vehicles were manufactured by Mercedes Benz and, for these vehicles, the exhaust was designed to point to the ground. “This exhaust position is perfectly within the law in Zambia where the vehicles are registered. Zimbabwe should respect and accept the Zambian standards,” he said. “The action taken by the Zimbabwean official is unacceptable,” he added. “It makes a mockery of trade facilitation.” A complaint was been registered by Fesarta on the Non-Tariff Barrier online system and according to Curtis it has been accepted as an NTB. “The NTB system will be making contact with Zimbabwe and requesting a response,” he said. “Clearly a dear lad is looking for a redistribution of wealth. This should under no circumstances take place. Furthermore the standing time charges should be brought to his attention and the question asked, who will be responsible for the demurrage bill?” a trucker commented. “Somewhere and somehow we need to get the message across; these lads are not Gods, they need to administer the law not make their own, and if they don’t know the law then they should not be placed in a position to enforce it. Quiet diplomacy does not work,” he said. ● What are some of the ‘infringements' for which your trucks have been detained or fined? Email joyo@nowmedia. co.za INSERT The exhaust is pointing down to the ground “ and it must be “up in the air“, according to a border official.