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.
