Press Release

Regional Workshop to Review Harmonisation of Key Elements and Implementation of Best Practice in Overload Control

Nairobi, Kenya  | Friday, July 18, 2008

 

The challenges that arise from the absence of a harmonized framework for overload control management and ineffective enforcement are most apparent along regional transport corridors. Among the most critical issues is the lack of harmonization of regulations regarding axle load limits and vehicle technical specifications among Eastern and Southern Africa countries, which makes overload control management difficult. In addition poor enforcement of applicable rules and regulations is prevalent across the region, owing to inadequate institutional capacity and serious integrity issues among public officials manning weighbridges leading to a lack of faith in systems used in different countries. Where some level of enforcement has been attempted, efficiency issues arise as vehicles are sometimes weighed frequently including at weigh bridges a few kilometers apart on different sides of border crossings.

The ECA AGCI Hub together with COMESA and the World Bank’s Sub-Saharan Africa Transport Programme (SSATP) co-sponsored a regional workshop bringing together COMESA, SADC and EAC Secretariats and member states to deliberate on the outcome of a major study on vehicle overload control, recently conducted jointly by SADC and COMESA with technical assistance from SSATP. The workshop, 9th & 10th July 2008, reviewed case studies of good practices and deliberated proposed implementation guidelines. This activity, also supported by the UNECA Sub-Regional Development Center in Southern Africa, is the biggest push ever in Eastern and Southern Africa towards ending the current situation characterised by lack of implementation of vehicle overload control frameworks adopted through various regional institutions. It is also an outstanding case of collaboration/coordination among regional economic communities (REC) and among development partners.

The workshop concluded with the participants adopting the proposed implementation guidelines and outlining recommended resolutions including standardized vehicle & axle/axle unit load limits, harmonized data management and adoption of SADC MOU on vehicle loading. Other recommendations proposed a cross-border overload system linked to customs at all border posts, harmonized weighbridge clearance certificates, regional training, design/implementation of anti-corruption programmes and dissemination of information to the public to create awareness of the importance of overload control.

The well informed technical resolutions from the workshop are expected to provide an adequate tool that will enable the three regional partners (COMESA, SADC, EAC) to secure the required mandate from their policy organs and to spearhead more effective implementation of harmonized vehicle overload control systems in Eastern and Southern Africa. The resolutions are also expected to enable the three RECs to mobilize the required funding from member states and/or development partners for implementation of projects arising from the Nairobi workshop resolutions.

Road transport plays a fundamental role in the social and economic development of many developing countries. In East and Southern Africa and, indeed in all of Africa, it provides the dominant mode of freight and passenger transport and carries between 80-90 percent of the continent’s total trade in goods and services. Thus in order to attain acceptable levels of road transport efficiency, the management and maintenance of road infrastructure form an important part of development in all countries. As such road infrastructure represents a huge investment for any country and Road Traffic Acts have been in place to stipulate permissible axle load, axle group combinations and vehicle dimensions to ensure that roads last their full design life under normal maintenance. In this regard the control of overloading is of paramount importance.

Unfortunately, overloading of commercial vehicles in Africa and particularly in the ESA region has been an on-going and costly problem for many years. When coupled with lack of adequate maintenance, it has resulted in the accelerated deterioration of the region’s roads causing the loss of precious infrastructure worth millions of dollars, with adverse impact on the economies of all African countries. For example, transport costs for East and Southern Africa are estimated to be 4/5 times higher than that of developed countries and for some landlocked countries as high as 30-40 per cent of the price of goods. Such high costs not only suppress international trade but also impact adversely on the economic competitiveness of Africa. This is exemplified by the relatively high cost of Africa’s logistics which remain high by international standards.

Over 50 high ranking public officials and key private sector operators from 15 countries and seven regional and international organizations attended the workshop. 

For more information, contact:
Silas Kanamugire – ECA AGCI HubTel:+254 20  2733250, Cell: +254 734 824 052
Email: skanamugire@ecatradehub.com
www.ecatradehub.com