The Zambian government has announced a 55% reduction in transit permit fees for international truck drivers, a move aimed at addressing concerns over high costs.
However, truck drivers in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have vowed to proceed with their planned protest to block Zambia’s borders on December 16 unless the permits are scrapped entirely.
Truck driver unions, including the Professional Drivers Union of Malawi, the United Truck Drivers Association, the Truck Drivers Union, the Zimbabwe Truck Driver Trade Union, and the United Southern Africa Truckers Association, notified the SADC of their intentions in a letter dated December 2. T
he unions warned that they would stage a “truck stoppage” at all border points between Zambia and its neighboring countries in protest against the transit permits.
In response, Zambia’s Director General of Immigration, Japhet Lishomwa, issued a statement on Wednesday announcing that the government had gazetted a significant reduction in the permit fees.
As per the gazette notice, the fee for first-time applications will decrease from K12,000 to K4,500, and renewal fees will drop from K15,000 to K5,625, effective from December 9.
Lishomwa emphasized that the 55% fee reduction was in response to long-standing complaints from truck drivers, particularly those crossing through the Katima Mulilo and Nakonde border posts.
The transit permit, introduced under the Immigration and Deportation Act of 2010, had seen significant fee increases over the past few years, sparking discontent among truck drivers.
In 2019, fees were raised from K3,500 to K9,000, and further increases earlier this year brought the fees to K12,000 for first-time applications and K15,000 for renewals.
Lishomwa explained that the reduction followed a consultative process with stakeholders, including the Walvis Bay-Ndola-Lubumbashi Corridor Group and Joint Permanent Commissions on Defence and Security with Namibia and Tanzania.
Discussions revealed the financial strain the high fees placed on truck drivers and their potential negative impact on regional trade.
“This reduction reflects our commitment to addressing the concerns of foreign drivers while fostering regional trade and cooperation,” Lishomwa stated. “Despite the delays caused by policy-related factors, we remain determined to see this through.”
The government hopes the fee reduction will ease the financial burden on truck drivers and reinforce Zambia’s role as a key transit hub in the region.
However, Fidelis Mukarati, Secretary General of the United Truck Drivers Association, expressed to Freight News on Thursday that truck drivers were dissatisfied with the reduction.
According to Mukarati, drivers are adamant that the only acceptable solution is the complete removal of the transit permit.
“The Zambian government has issued a press statement, but we are not backing off the demands for the removal of the transit permit. The protest is going ahead as planned,” Mukarati said.
