• All companies involved in the export and imports of goods in Zambia are urged to abide by the law.
• Government has noted with concern that Exporters and Importers have perpetually abrogated the law by engaging foreign transporters.
• Government is taking serious steps into ensuring the law is adhered to by all companies.

Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise Development has urged companies involved in the export and imports of goods in Zambia to abide by provisions of the Citizens Economic Empowerment Act No. 9 of 2006 on Transportation of Heavy and Bulk Commodities by Road-Reservation Regulations, 2021.

In a statement, Ministry’s Permanent Secretary,  Subeta Mutelo, said government has noted with concern that Exporters and Importers have perpetually abrogated the law by engaging foreign transporters to move goods by road within Zambia.

Mrs. Mutelo stated that failure by Exporters and Importers to abide by the law will leave the Ministry with no choice but to swing into action and ensure the culprits are brought to book in ensuring that business preference is given to local transporters as provided for by the Act.

“Government has noted with concern abrogation, by exporters and importers, of the Citizens Economic Empowerment Act, 2006 (Act No. 9 of 2006) on Transportation of Heavy and Bulk Commodities by Road (Reservation) Regulations, 2021. Exporters and Importers have perpetually abrogated the law by engaging foreign transporters to move goods by road within Zambia.”

“All companies involved in the export and imports of goods in Zambia are urged to abide by the law failure to which the Ministry, working with other law enforcement agencies will swing into action and ensure the culprits are brought to book in ensuring that business preference is given to local transporters as provided for by the Act,” Mrs. Mutelo cautioned.

She assured all players in the transport sector that Government is taking serious steps into ensuring the law is adhered to by all companies by ensuring that contracts in the Transportation of Heavy and Bulk Commodities by Road is given to local transporters.

“I urge all transporting companies to engage the Ministry whenever they face challenges or observe an illegality being done by an exporter or importer,” she stated.

Section 4 of the Act states that “Subject to the Railways Transportation of Heavy Goods Regulations, 2018, a person who intends to transport a commodity by road shall give preference to a local road transporter in accordance with these Regulations.”

“Further, the law states that these regulations shall apply to (a) a producer, manufacturer or user of a raw material of a commodity; (b) an oil supplier; and extends to companies such as: (i) a logistics company; (ii) a clearing and forwarding company; and (iii) an oil marketing company; and the transportation by road of a commodity to a person’s plant, industry or place of business.

Section 4 also directs that “a person who intends to export a commodity referred to in the Schedule, from the Republic to another country, shall ensure that at least fifty percent of the commodity is transported by a local road transporter”.