Botswana and Zambian
transporters remain at
loggerheads over fees and
levies, with both sides
complaining of an unfair
business climate.
Cross-border movement
between the two countries
has been under pressure due
to a huge discrepancy in the
tolls, levies and fees paid by
operators.
There have been growing
complaints of fees being
determined selectively
depending on the
country from which
an operator originates.
In 2016 a haulier told FTW
that where a South African
truck was required to pay a
$110 fee, a Botswana truck
would pay around $540.
Another transporter,
who also preferred to
remain anonymous, said
in November Zambia had
announced a change in
its tolls act that excluded
Botswana and hauliers from
that country had to pay
higher tolls than other
SADC states.
“Botswana
retaliated by
issuing an
amendment of its Road
Traffic and Road Transport
(Permits) regulations in
May this year. Under this
amendment, tolls were
increased and Zambian
transporters were handed a
hefty penalty. The result is
that as a Zambian transporter
our transit fees through
Botswana have increased by
70%,” said the transporter.
Lucas Barreto, chairman
of the Botswana Freight
Forwarders’ Association,
denied that
the increased
tolls were in
retaliation for
the Zambian
increases,
saying the
regulation had
been amended
to bring it in
line with the
fees charged
across SADC.
“Everyone
was affected
by this amendment and even
Botswana transporters are
paying increased fees,” he
said.
Barreto said it was however
imperative to find a solution
to the ongoing fee war
between the two countries as
it was negatively impacting
the movement of
cargo in southern
Africa as a whole.
Another
Zambian
transporter
contacted by
FTW agreed,
saying authorities
from Zambia and Botswana
were attempting to negotiate.
“The Truckers' Association
of Zambia
(TAZ) has also
been working
towards
finding a
solution and
some progress
has been made
thanks to
the ongoing
efforts of TAZ
into getting
the parties to
communicate.”
He and
Barreto said the process
however remained extremely
slow which in itself was
concerning.
“We have to harmonise
the region to ensure the
smooth movement of freight,”
said Barreto. “We need one
procedure, one system and
one set of rules
for southern
Africa that is easy
to understand
and that is easy
to comply with.
Every country
at present is
different and the
systems are complex.”
He said escalating fees
in different countries
introduced with little or no
notice further compounded
the issue.
“It is extremely
complicated. You will
find that countries like
South Africa, Zimbabwe
and Zambia have tolls but
Botswana does not and
therefore it feels that it makes
less revenue and so increases
its road usage fees,” he said.
“Or one country feels that
it is being disadvantaged
because its permits are not
as expensive as others so
introduces a new fee for this
or that. These all impact
negatively on shippers who
ultimately pay the price.”
We need one
procedure, one
system and one set
of rules for southern
Africa.
– Lucas Barreto
70%
The increase in transit fees
for Zambian transporters
through Botswana.
