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New border post throttling Beitbridge

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New border post throttling Beitbridge

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GARIKAI MAFIRAKUREVA/

TRYMORE TAGWIREI

TWO NATIONS REPORTERS

MASVINGO – The modernized US$300 million Beitbridge Border Post opened by President Mnangagwa last month has seen toll fees spiralling by more than 900% as the company that constructed the new post tries to recoup its costs. Three years back trucks used to pay US$20 plus ZWL$20 road access and ZAR325 for gate pass.  

Analysts who spoke to Two Nations in interviews said the thriving border town could be throttled into a ghost town as international truckers and travellers look for alternative routes.

Two Nations established that that the cost of driving a vehicle across Beitbridge has reached is an astronomical US$692.

The breakdown is as follows; Zimborders which built the new border post charges US$40 for minibuses to cross, US$80 for coaches, US$80 for light goods vehicles, US$115 for heavy vehicles, US$200 for heavy goods vehicles and US$344 for Abnormal load.  

In addition, the traveller will pay Zimbabwe National Road Authority (ZINARA) US$90, Carbon tax US$30, Vehicle Inspection Department (VID) US$100, Gate pass US$28, and Environmental Management Agency (EMA) US$100 bringing the total cost for small vehicles to US$388 and US$692 for heavy vehicles.

Meanwhile the route from the south to the north through Kazungula Bridge which competes with Beitbridge is on average three times cheaper although it has better roads.

Zambia Revenue Authority charges US$20 for minibuses, buses US$65, and trucks US$100 to cross the Kazungula bridge.

The Cape-town-based company entered into a Build Operate and Transfer with the Zimbabwean Government spanning 17 years. 

Norton legislator, Temba Mliswa also decried the charges and feared that the new border will become a white elephant.

Zimborders general manager Nqobile Ncube said the Beitbridge Border Modernisation and upgrade project is a Public Private Partnership that is bankrolled by institutional finance lending and the fees structure was arrived at after an 18-month long regional study.

He went on to say that the current norm for infrastructure development is largely underpinned by global finance institutions and these are properly benchmarked and hence Zimborders believe, post research that the charges are relative to what is occurring in the region.

“The charges referred to were arrived at after an intensive study and we believe they are commensurate to the facilities and services being provided. We believe that the benefits that this project will bring, that is, traffic separation, automation and expanded infrastructure, will massively improve efficiencies and turnaround times which are critical to assisting economies to thrive.

“It is also prudent to note that the scope of this project has five major port items that also work towards supporting livelihoods, ensuring safety, adequate water supply and stock and animal management facilities. 

 “I am pleased to note that we are now averaging 800 trucks (at least 300 of these a month are abnormal trucks), per day close to 90 buses and currently we are servicing an average of 10 000 people a day. We trust that this increasing trend will see us reaching the pre COVID movement trends just before the festive season,” said Ncube. 

ZINARA spokesperson Tendai Mugabe said he cannot comment on gazetted fees and referred all the questions to the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development. 

“Why are people complaining against ZINARA only when they are also charged by other institutions?” asked Mugabe.

Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development Mike Madiro defended the toll fees and said he thinks the pricing structure was a result of a well thought out model taking into consideration viability, sustainability so that the standards can be maintained. 

“That facility is arguably the best in Africa. It’s not comparable with anything in the world and such standards don’t just come cheap or else we risk a deterioration of that excellent facility, but the concern of the public is not ignored,” said Madiro.   

Beitbridge Town clerk Loud Ramakgapola said the town’s existence depends on traffic going through the border. He said that the town will be affected if travellers choose to use other routes.

“Our town exists because of the border post. Most of its activities are hinged on the border post. We have many clearing agencies and warehouses because of the border post and these will die if truckers move to other routes,” said Ramakgapola.  

Beitbridge cross-border chairperson and councillor for Ward 3 Tavingei Mahachi said Government should have engaged the public before it entered the Zimborders Consortium deal.  

“As the chairperson of the Cross Border organisation I am calling on Government to reduce the toll fees. 

“We appreciate the upgrade, but we appeal for the review of the toll fees charged by the Zimborders Consortium because we pay US$40 just to travel 20 kilometres into Musina,” said Mahachi.

Casper Musiiwa a cross border complained about the fees charged by Zimborders.

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