Caution on that 'fong-kong' Measure

For years now, some sections of society have urged caution as Botswana opened its doors to tens of thousands of the so-called 'fong-kongs'. They warned that many of these vehicles would have gone past permissible emission limits in their countries of origin. Essentially, the vehicles would no longer be roadworthy because of those countries' strict emission laws and would be grounded until they were taken to the scrap yard for recycling.

However, in a country where prices of new motor vehicles are outrageously prohibitive, the 'fong-kongs' were a godsend. Many who could have never dreamt of owning a vehicle suddenly found themselves in a position to buy one.