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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.
Road hauliers blame government handling of Covid-19 testing for queues up to 25km long 07 January 2021 - 13:03 Mpumzi Zuzile Picture: REUTERS
Road hauliers have blamed the SA government for delays at the Lebombo border post between SA and Mozambique, where a large number of trucks are creating huge congestion.
The delays have been blamed on traffic management and the way Covid-19 testing is being done on the SA side of the border.
“We support the requirement for the testing to be done‚ but border personnel are overwhelmed and cannot cope with the situation‚” said Mike Fitzmaurice, CEO of the Federation of East and Southern African Road Transport Associations (Fesarta).
Covid test certificate demand causes huge congestion that will force many companies to close, industry warns 11 January 2021 - 20:00
Delays caused by Covid-19 testing protocols at SA’s busiest land borders have cost the road freight industry more than R2.5bn and has sparked a growing humanitarian crisis, warns Southern Africa’s largest transport association.
Thousands of commuters, truck drivers and holidaymakers have been stranded for up to seven days in queues stretching nearly 20km into Zimbabwe and Mozambique as people enter SA.
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