Issued by: SA Communication Service
PRESS STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA ON THE OCCASION OF THE SIGNING OF THE BILATERAL AGREEMENT ON ROAD FREIGHT AND PASSENGER TRANSPORT BETWEEN SOUTH AFRICA AND ZAMBIA, PRETORIA,
8 OCTOBER 1996
The Ministers of Transport of South Africa and Zambia today signed a bilateral agreement dealing with road freight and passenger transport between the two countries.
The main thrust of the agreement is to promote and facilitate the efficient movement of goods and persons by road between the two countries within the framework provided for in the agreement. This will, amongst others, be achieved through the introduction of a more relaxed regulatory environment for road transportation. Each country will in future issue permits to its own road transport operators to provide services between the two countries without the need to obtain a second permit in the country of destination. This elimination of the need to obtain a second permit will result in major time and cost savings and will contribute to the creation of an environment conducive for cross-border trade between the two countries.
The agreement also provides for the establishment of Joint Route Management Committees (JRMCs) within which private sector stakeholders and government officials from both countries may consult and deliberate on issues of mutual concern. These committees may serve as forums to identify and address further problem areas and to introduce improvements to the agreement.
The agreement also commits the parties to address ancillary issues which affect day-to-day transport operations. These include commercial vehicle guarantees, harmonisation of traffic standards and the elimination or reduction of taxes, fees and charges of a transport nature.
Both countries will now submit the agreement for approval in terms of their domestic constitutional requirements.
Issued by: Ms E Kruger Tel (+27)(12) 328 3084 Fax (+27)(12) 328 3194