Non-Tariff Barriers

Complaint

Complaint number

NTB-000-565  

NTB Type

8.1. Government Policy and regulations  

Complaint

This complaint is registered by FESARTA.
When a vehicle foreign to Zambia, enters that country and wishes to operate to the copperbelt, the driver has to identify the destination town and pay the relevant road user charge.
During the trip, after offloading, the transporter may wish to load at a different town on the copperbelt.
The driver then has to purchase additional road user charges to that town, from Ndola, which is the only town issuing rucs. The vehicle may not be going to Ndola.
This is very inconvenient and costly to the transporter.  

Status note

On 31st March 2016, Zambia Focal Point advised that it is mandatory for transporters to pay Road User Chargers in all cities in Zambia. This applies to the cited area (Kasumbalesa and Mufulira Mokambo) in the complaint posted. The charges apply during working days and over the weekend, transporters can only pay at the border post (Kasumbalesa and Mufulira Mokambo). Given this clarification, Zambia therefore recommended that this complaint be resolved.  

Progress update note

1. On 30th September 2013, FESARTA reported that consultations had been done with the transport sector to respond to progress report made by Zambia at the 11th meeting of the SADC Sub Committee on Trade facilitation held on 23rd may 2013 . The road transport operators are submitting the response below:

‘Zambia’s response that additional RUCs can be purchased from other internal Copperbelt towns during working hours, is not conducive to trade facilitation and is not acceptable to the road transport industry. Transporters operating to the Copperbelt may deliver goods in one town and then pick up from another.

The arrangement when a transporters deliver in one town and then have to purchase additional RUCs to pick up from a different town is not practical, it causes delays and adds costs. The problem is further exacerbated if the transporters deliver on a Friday and then want to pick up from another town on a Saturday. Drivers will have to wait until the following Monday to purchase additional RUCs.

FESARTA recommends that transporters be able purchase RUCs to the Copperbelt (including Ndola, Kitwe, Kalulushi, Luanshya, Mufulira, Chingola, Nchanga and Chililabombwe), as one purchase at the entry border. They can then deliver to one town and pick up from another, without having to purchase additional RUCs.

The improved vehicle turnaround will far outweigh any minor revenue loss that the Zambian government may experience. Sourcing revenue from selling additional RUCs for travelling between the Copperbelt towns, is, in FESARTA’s opinion, unjustified.”


2. During the 11th meeting of the SADC Sub -Committee on Trade Facilitation held on 23 May 2013 in Gaborone, Zambia reported that it was possible to make payments at other stations, however for inland stations/pay points services are only available during working hours (Monday-Friday). During weekend payments can be made at border stations.  

Policy or regulatory NTB

Yes 

Location

Zambia: Copperbelt (Other)  

Reporting Country or Region

South Africa  

Country specific trade issue

No  

Date of incident

2013-02-05  

Status

Resolved  

Date of resolution

2016-03-31  

Product Description

All products

Computer-assisted translation

• English
• Arabic
• French
• Portuguese

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Total value

0  

Date reported

2013-02-05 14:30  

Modified

2016-04-06 09:57