Depending on their experience, they will choose which route to use in the future.
Fitzmaurice says it is too early to say if the bridge will ease congestion at Beitbridge, although he expects it to do so initially as truckers try the new route.
What does it mean for Zimbabwe?
“I am not convinced that it will take away too much traffic from Beitbridge as you have to bear in mind that Zimbabwean transporters operate 56% of all heavy goods vehicle transport through Chirundu. They will continue to favour the Beitbridge/Chirundu route because their drivers have families in Zimbabwe and refuel at depots in Harare on route to Chirundu,” he says.