Zambian hauliers get their share of cross-border business

KEVIN MAYHEW
ZAMBIAN HAULIERS are at last able to take their place as equals in the marketplace against more aggressive operators from South Africa and Zimbabwe, according to the chairperson of the country’s Federation of Hauliers (Fedhaul), Roland Norton. Lusaka-based Norton says that local operators are seen to be capable of meeting both internal and cross-border transport needs, whereas previously cross-border operations were discouraged as there were tight controls on foreign exchange. “We tended to find deliveries would be from the ports or South Africa’s industrial areas direct to key centres in Zambia by South African and Zimbabwean hauliers. After that they would be given to locals to distribute within the country. “This has changed and you can see it in the size of Zambia-based fleets and what they are geared to carry. There has also been massive capital investment in transport and handling equipment and facilities,” he said.