Table 1: Summary of Issues Discussed in the Panel Discussions and Presentations

EU has promised an additional €12 million to support with the implementation of the five

(5) TTTFP model laws and two

(2) principal Road Transport Agreements (RTAs) by the tripartite Member States

Challenges of the TTTFP:

• Bringing tripartite region to a minimum level of compliance

• Dimension methodology used for motor vehicle load management

• Communication challenges between the various regional weighbridge authorities

• Timeframe, process and speed of domestication

• Language barriers: Arabic, English, French and Portuguese

Tripartite Member States should not delay the process of ratification and domestication of the TTTFP model laws and principal agreements in order to benefit from the follow-up EU support

The challenges could be resolved through the following:

• Adoption of the principal agreements and model laws by the Council of Ministers (CoM) and Heads of State Summit (HoSS) and accelerated domestication by Member States

• Standardisation of weighbridges in the COMESA, EAC and SADC region

• Provide specific incentives for accelerated domestication of the principal agreements and model laws

• Engagement of permanent translators: Arabic, English, French and Portuguese

Zambia is in the process of implementing the AfCFTA, but what is the link between the TTTFP and the AfCFTA or continental integration?

• COMESA, EAC and SADC are RECs which are the building blocks for the AU or African Economic Community (AEC)

• AU assumed and adopted instruments from all the eight RECs in Africa including tripartite instruments at the time it was established

• Yamoussoukro Decision in the aviation sector was informed by COMESA instruments

• Focus and aim is to facilitate travel and increase trade in the region and on the continent

What are the challenges hindering roll-out, full implementation and operationalisation of the TTTFP?

These include:

• Harmonisation of various frameworks such as the vehicle load management

• Language and cultural differences

• Lack of differentiation in the goods produced in the region hence the low intra-African trade

• Low value-addition hence most of the intra-African trade is in the form of primary goods