Axle load limit on Botswana roads increased

| Tuesday July 8, 2008 00:00

This endorsement signals another huge milestone of the Trans Kalahari Corridor Management Committee (TKCMC) in their quest to harmonise cross-border procedures, systems and practices on the Trans Kalahari Corridor linking the port of Walvis Bay in Namibia with Botswana and Gauteng province in South Africa consistent with TKC MOU signed by three Governments on 3 November 2003. The new axle load limits of 9000 kg became effective on 17 June 2008. 

This means that transporters departing South Africa and Namibia with legal load limits of 9000 kg will be treated the same in Botswana.

Effectively this eliminates penalties that should have been charged in the event a transporter was found to have exceeded the then allowable limits of 8200 kg upon arrival at the Botswana border.

The increase in limits brings about complete harmonisation in so far as the axle load limits are concerned along the Trans Kalahari Corridor. 

This should be viewed in light of adding yet another competitive advantage to the utilisation of the Trans Kalahari Corridor via the Port of Walvis Bay especially in view of the elimination of penal costs. The transport industry should therefore take advantage of the successful achievement of this milestone as a commercial opportunity to increasing their business competitiveness and indeed regional competitiveness.

It is an achievement we can proudly attribute to a working Public/Private Partnership founded on trans-boundary cooperation - the TKC MOU with operational oversight by the Corridor Management Committee (TKCMC) and coordination of the Trans Kalahari Secretariat, which is being hosted by the Walvis Bay Corridor Group. 

The focus of the Trans Kalahari Secretariat is to enhance the operational efficiencies of the corridor through adoption of predictable procedures and effective systems that facilitate seamless cross-border movement of goods and persons.The Trans Kalahari Corridor allows a two day transit turnaround time to the final destination.