The programme
Against this background, the Government of the Republic of Zambia, through the Roads Development Agency (RDA) of the Ministry of Works and Supply (MWS) and with the support of Norway and the European Commission (EC) established in March 2004 an Axle load Control Programme (ALCP) with the core objective of “Establishing a robust and efficient control system with capacity to protect all the core road network against illegal overloading.”
The programme has an overall financial support estimated at NOK50 million with Norway contributing NOK30 million and EC NOK20 million (€2.5 million).
The programme takes on a holistic and integrated nature in what is termed a “process approach to axle load control” to avoid the pitfalls suffered in other countries where attempts on overload control have been done in a piecemeal manner over extended periods of time. The programme has components comprising:
- Information and awareness campaigns
- Improve organisation and procedures
- The legal initiative
- Change of old procedures and training
- Weigh bridge equipment and sites
- Minimising corrupt practices
- Establishing a Vehicle Overload Management Information System
- Commercialisation/Privatisation of weigh bridges
- Project monitoring
In implementing the activities under these components the Zambia RDA has in December 2003 entered into an institutional Cooperation agreement with the Norwegian Public Roads Administration (NPRA).
Programme implementation and reviews
The programme has since implementation run smoothly and reviewed by external parties at several time junctures. The programme initially anticipated to run for four years has now become incorporated into the countries overall road sector programme and supported by the EC.
Notable reviews and studies of the programme include;
- A programme mid-term review of 2005,
- A case study on the economic impact of enforcing axle load control regulation in Zambia by the Norwegian Molde Research/Molde University College in cooperation with NPRA of September 2008,
- A programme review by the EU as part of the overall Zambian Road Sector Investment Programme II mid-term review of 2008,
- A programme end review for Norwegian support commissioned by NORAD and undertaken by GICON AS of Norway in association with InfraAfrica ltd of Botswana.
Programme performance
The programme has received wide commendation for its holistic and integrated nature. Even before the full implementation of the programme it has recorded tremendous successes and exhibited very high levels of relevance and impact to the country. There has so far been a significant reduction in overloading and reduction in corruption in the sector. Capacity of the RDA in overload control has also been built and clear structures with RDA established to manage axle load control. The recent 2009 NORAD commissioned review has highlighted the successes of the programme and made recommendations to ensure sustainability of the programme is secured.