The report said that a study carried out by the United States Agency for International Development found that between 25% and 35% of trucks using the corridors were overweight. The report, which focused on issues of efficiency and logistical costs, stated that despite both routes having weigh stations the problem persisted because they are often not operational. It pointed out that the weigh station at the beginning of the Beira Corridor at Dondo was not in operation, although there are plans to fix it. Meanwhile, there are only two weigh stations in operation along the whole of the Nacala corridor, at Nacala and Nampula.

As a result of misuse and poor maintenance, several sections of road are now in an unacceptable condition. The report highlights the 135 kilometer section between Beria and Inchope, the 192 kilometers between Milange and Mocuba and the 748 kilometers from Nampula to Mandimba.

According to the document, the poor state of the roads contribute significantly to the high transport costs for goods to and from for the ports of Nacala and Beira.

For example, the cost of transport from Beira to Machipanda is USD 5.96 per container per kilometer. The purpose of the report is to identify the causes of poor performance in the ports and their corridors in order to share best practices from elsewhere to reduce delays. The report considers the two corridors to have a huge potential for rapid economic growth. But they require investment in new infrastructure and the maintenance of existing facilities.

 

 
Source – All Africa