Beit Bridge traffic jam blamed on new contractor
By OLIVER SAMBOKO
A PRIVATE contractor, Zimborders has caused chaos at Beit bridge Border Post by demanding US$201 per truck to pass at the border terminal between Zimbabwe and South Africa.
As at yesterday, the traffic congestion at the border was as long as 10km on both sides because truck drivers have been caught unwares.
Zimborders was contracted by the Zimbabwean government to upgrade the border on a build operate and transfer basis at a total cost of US$300 million and will run the facility for 17 years before handing over to government.
Some stranded drivers also complained that the electronic paying system at the upgraded border which was opened last week, is too slow to accommodate a huge number of traffic at the SADC get way.
One of the affected drivers, Admore Mpofu complained that the $201 dollars border fee is too much and has resulted in may SADC drivers being stranded.
“The border fee charged by Zimborders is too much as most of the drivers are not able to pay from the ration,” he said.
But Zimborders, through its spokesperson François Diedrechsen denied accusations that it was responsible for the chaos the country’s busiest border crossing.
He blamed the Covid19 curfew regulations imposed by Zimbabwe and South Africa which is not allowing clearing agents to work at night and that given the traffic volumes, the backlog is growing every day.
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