Author:mike-fitzmaurice

FESARTA introduces training programme November 1, 2023 The Federation of East and Southern Africa Road Transport Associations (Fesarta) has introduced an innovative training programme. Designed to be an in-house training programme, it aims to prepare a driver for their duties on the road. MIKE FITZMAURICE hopes that it will go a long way towards improving driving standards in Africa. The new Fesarta programme consists of 24 basic modules, divided into five separate categories. Each of the 24 e-learning modules is made […]

Delays are costing billions! May 3, 2022 Delays at regional borders in Southern Africa are costing the cross-border transport industry billions! A staggering amount – over R4,29 billion – was lost in the first quarter of 2022 alone, writes MIKE FITZMAURICE. After more than four months of fieldwork gathering data on cross-border trade via the road modality in Kenya and Malawi, the Federation of Southern African Road Transport Associations (FESARTA) is now able to provide some essential feedback concerning the […]

All-new Beitbridge Border Post opens! October 13, 2021 Southern Africa has been in the doldrums for decades when it comes to trade facilitation, while East Africa has progressed in leaps and bounds. MIKE FITZMAURICE says this is all about to change with the opening of the all-new Beitbridge Border Post. New one-stop border post (OSBP) infrastructures are popping up all over the place and efficient ICT systems have revolutionised trade in the region. The construction of the majestic Kazungula Bridge […]

Border post chaos hampers AfCFTA implementation September 16, 2021 The Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) was established on January 1, 2021, and it brought high hopes that inter-regional trade in Africa would be revolutionised. But as MIKE FITZMAURICE says, the chaotic border posts are standing in the path of its successful implementation. Despite the potential of creating a free-trade area representing 55 countries and 1,3 billion people, with a combined gross domestic product of $3,4 billion, the AfCFTA is largely […]

Violence will have catastrophic impact, warns Fesarta July 16, 2021 The devastation and aftermath of looting and destruction of vital supply chain infrastructure in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng in the last week after Jacob Zuma’s incarceration will be felt for many years to come. The supply chain between the Port of Durban to Gauteng and cross-border has been completely cut off with the N3 no longer passable for trucks to supply much-needed fuel, groceries, pharmaceuticals and many other supplies. Food security […]

Covid-19 testing: yet another nail in the operators’ coffins April 20, 2021 Cross-border transport operators are facing all sorts of challenges – not least of which are Covid-testing protocols, as MIKE FITZMAURICE reveals… The cross-border transport sector is currently facing a major challenge with the alignment of Covid-19 testing protocols throughout the region, as can be seen in the accompanying table. The requirement of 72-hour validity on entry to a country is creating a huge challenge for transporters, especially for […]

All roads lead to Kazangula – or do they? November 13, 2020 With the opening of the new Kazangula bridge between Botswana and Zambia scheduled for the end of this year, there is much anticipation among transporters, importers and exporters of a new golden highway from South Africa into the landlocked countries of Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Will it solve cross-border transport operators’ woes? MIKE FITZMAURICE isn’t so sure … The 900 m masterpiece of […]

We take a look at what needs to be done in order to fix the inefficient border posts in the southern African region. In part one we looked at the inefficiencies of the current two stop (or legacy) border posts and the failure of Africa’s first One Stop Border Post (OSBP) – Chirundu – and compared them to the massive and successful strides made in the East African Community (EAC) with the numerous OSBPs, which have greatly improved trade facilitation […]

Beitbridge is set to follow in Chirundu’s footsteps as a One Stop Border Post if relevant changes are not implemented In a recent media release on February 9, the Minister of Home Affairs Aaron Motsoaledi announced that Beitbridge – the busiest border post in southern Africa – would operate as a One Stop Border Post (OSBP) from 2024. It could, however, follow in the footsteps of Chirundu, which became the first OSBP in Africa in December 2009, if relevant changes […]

With so many challenges currently facing the road freight industry, control and regulation standards are paramount The road freight sector in most of eastern and southern Africa is under extreme pressure, due to rising costs, deteriorating roads, a reduction in industrial outputs, and the ever-increasing imposition of more taxes and levies. The situation is aggravated by the lack of effective training at all levels. In South Africa, the National Diploma in Road Transport Management no longer relates to managerial activities. […]