The Petroleum Transporters Association of Zambia – PTAZ has welcomed government’s move through the Ministry of Transport and Communications to implement a 50% quota of outgoing cargo to to be trucked by local transporters, in a moved aimed at supporting local businesses and retaining funds in the Zambian economy.
PTAZ in supporting the move have even called for a more courageous move were the government has been urged to put into motion a plan to soon move the country to 100 percent, for all outgoing cargo. Most countries have preference for their local transporters for outgoing cargo and Zambia should not shy away from building and boosting its local transporters.
Last year, government issued a new Statutory Instrument – SI to compel transporters of heavy cargo to move 30% of bulk cargo from road to railway leaving 70% on the road and government has since decided to move 35 percent to Local transporters while the other 35 percent has been said to remain for competition on the market.
The railway system has now been given a lease of life with both Zambia Railways and TAZARA recording improved business revenues. This is further expected to also support the operation of an efficient passenger services, expected to be the low cost travel option.
PTAZ Secretary General Benson Tembo has told the Zambian Business Times – ZBT in an exclusive interview that it is in support of government’s decision but that the ministry should consider moving the remaining 70 percent to local transporters to avoid situations of foreigner nationals posing as local transporters while depriving locals of the business opportunities.
Tembo has since urged government to quickly sign off the document to avoid any further delays as citizens are anxiously waiting to participate in the transportation of copper and cobalt concentrates, sugar, coal, cement, Sulphur, fuel among other heavy bulk cargo hence need protection and support for the local businesses to grow and start contributing to the economy.
“The decision is welcome and we are hoping the move will be implemented soon. Currently the beneficiaries are foreigners coming to Zambian and posing with over hundreds of tracks in Zambia whose source of funding is not even known but busy displacing most of the indigenous Zambians in the sector and this has been our concern for a long time hence hoping that this move will change the way things are conducted, “he said.
He added that Zambia should aim at giving 100 percent to its citizens who are fully registered and signed up transporters and not spare a share for foreign nationals suggesting that foreign national that want to participation in the transportation should be sub-contracted by a Zambian owned business.
And in a separate exclusive interview with ZBT, Transport Ministry Permanent Secretary Misheck Lungu said government is at a phase of sensitisation and in consultation with key stakeholders regarding that development and that, it is open to any suggestions made by the public and interest organizations.
He said the suggestion of moving 100 (70) percent to local transporters is a positive decision but that it is likely to affect Zambians who do business outside country hence the need to balance the act to avoid having the Zambian business closed by other countries.
Lungu further said government has noted the blocking on the market hence the consideration of putting up policies to enable Zambians have business and make money adding that it will sign off soon after consultations are done.
“70 percent is a good suggestion and will take it positively because it is the feedback that we want to get from the public and if government has suggested 50 percent but that 70 is what everyone wants then will go for 70 percent, so as at now we are in the consultation phase and will sign after we are done with the consultation process,” he said.
