TSL unit seeks backing on dry port

RYAN CHIGOCHE

TSL Limited’s unit, Bak Logistics, is seeking support from the Ministry of Health and Child Care for its long planned dry port in Harare, which will facilitate smooth trade within the region and decongest the borders, especially Beitbridge.

Bak Logistics made an application to ZIMRA last year to set up the proposed dry port, which is also referred to as an inland port.

Munyaradzi Kandawasvika, the Bak Logistics head of logistics management services, described the proposed dry port as a “game changer”.

He said the proposed dry ports would be key to improved logistics, improving the flow of cargo between sea and land.

The plan is part of a growing trend that ensures that landlocked countries are well served by far-away seaports.

“Geographically, Zimbabwe is the logistics hub of southern Africa. The Bak Logistics inland port meets all the requirements for a dry port. We lodged our application with ZIMRA some time back and we believe with the support of the Ministry of Health and Child Care, we could have a dry port in Harare,” Kandawasvika said.

He said the dry port would make Zimbabwe a regional hub.

If we partner in the dry port with for example Natpharm, we can house the buffer stock for the likes of The Global Fund, UNICEF, UNFPA, USAID, World Vision, WFP and among many others for countries like Zambia, Malawi, DRC,’’ Kandawasvika said.

He said Bak Logistics have the expertise, experience and the infrastructure to take advantage of this inherent strategic advantage “we have as a country of being the logistics hub of Southern Africa”.

“Our appeal is to Ministry of Health and Child Care to appeal to Health Development Partners to open the logistics space for local players.’’

Kandawasvika said Bak Logistics could provide a better service and significantly reduce and eliminate freight related challenges like demurrage charges.

Zimbabwe as a land-linked country relies on the seaports of Durban and Beira.

Last year, the government gazetted four dry ports in Mutare, Masvingo, Bulawayo, and Makuti under Statutory Instrument (SI) 55 of 2020.

These are currently operating as government projects.

A dry port is an inland intermodal terminal that is directly connected to a seaport by road or rail and serves as a hub for the transshipment of sea cargo to inland destinations.

With a dry port, the recent introduction of the Maputo to Harare train by private players will be a game changer as the train has a capacity of 100 wagons and takes just three to five days to reach Harare from Maputo.