Government has been urged to install and effectively operate weighbridges along major highways to curb vehicle overloading, protect road infrastructure and improve road safety.
The recommendation was among the resolutions adopted at the just-ended Zanu PF Annual National People’s Conference in Chinhoyi, which called for the enforcement of permissible vehicle-load limits to preserve the country’s road network.
The resolution states that appropriate weighbridges should be installed and effectively operated along major highways to ensure that heavy vehicles comply with prescribed loading limits.
“Effective operation of weighbridges would be essential to ensuring that vehicles comply with prescribed load limits, protecting road infrastructure and improving safety for all road users,” said a representative from the Zanu PF National Conference Transport Sub-Committee.
Weighbridges would also enable authorities to monitor freight vehicles more effectively, identify overloaded trucks and enforce compliance with applicable transport regulations.
The recommendation comes as the country’s road network remains critical to the movement of people and goods, connecting communities, facilitating trade and supporting economic activity.
The Transport Sub-Committee representative added that that overloaded vehicles place excessive pressure on road surfaces, accelerating deterioration and increasing the frequency and cost of maintenance.
“Enforcing load limits would help preserve roads, reduce infrastructure rehabilitation costs and improve their long-term sustainability.”
Furthermore the resolution aligns with the Government’s Vision 2030 agenda of modernising the country’s infrastructure to support economic growth, trade and connectivity. As such, effective enforcement of vehicle-load limits would help preserve road investments, reduce maintenance costs and ensure that the country’s highway network remains safe, durable and efficient in supporting the country’s development aspirations.
