Zimbabwean authorities plan to install mobile weighing units in mining districts to control the weight of trucks. According to NewZimbabwe, this move aims to stop heavy vehicles from destroying the national road network. Joy Makumbe, the permanent secretary at the Transport Ministry, explained that the damage is most severe in mining zones. She noted that these routes were originally constructed to support much lighter traffic loads.
Makumbe shared these details after attending a session for parliamentary committees focused on transport and public accounts. The meeting took place at the legislative building in Mt Hampden on Monday. She described a recent site visit where she observed trucks hauling seventy tonnes of cargo. The specific roads she inspected were only engineered to handle thirty tonnes at maximum capacity. This disparity highlights the stress placed on local infrastructure by the mining industry.
To address this, the ministry will work with the Zimbabwe National Road Administration to deploy mobile weighing stations. These units will operate in motion within the mining sectors. Makumbe also pointed out that the Vehicle Inspection Department already offers weighing services at various locations. Operators can use these existing facilities to check their loads before departing their sites. This step helps ensure that trucks leave with appropriate weights, reducing the risk of immediate road wear.
Longer-term fixes are also underway. The road administration has issued tenders to repair aging weighing stations at border crossings and toll booths. New units will also be added at critical road sections. Makumbe warned that violators would face strict financial penalties. She indicated that the road authority would prefer immediate cash payments over extended payment schedules. "They will just be wanting you to pay," she told the committee, according to NewZimbabwe. This approach aims to force operators to manage their loads more carefully to avoid costly fines.