Zambian log ban could impact Walvis Bay corridor

Zambia’s decision to ban the
transit of loads of endangered
tree species through the country
could have an impact on capacity
and rates on the Walvis Bay-Ndola-
Lubumbashi development corridor,
according to Philip Coetzee, general
manager of Woker Freight.
Recently Zambian president
Edgar Lungu signed a “Statutory
Instrument (SI)” to bar the
transiting of mukula logs through
Zambia from neighbouring
countries.
According to Coetzee a number of
truckloads have since been detained,
but have subsequently been released.
During its annual trip to Namibia
in March, FTW met a number of
freight forwarding and trucking
companies involved in the export
of the wood from the Democratic
Republic of Congo (DRC).
They said the return loads were
supporting the corridor and making
a significant contribution to volumes
through the port of Walvis Bay.