Windhoek heavy-vehicle permit system sparks construction cost concerns

The Construction Industries Federation of Namibia (CIF) has called for a delay in the enforcement of the City of Windhoek’s new Heavy Vehicle Access and Permit System, warning of rising construction costs. The system, which took effect on 1 September, requires vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Mass of nine tonnes or more to obtain permits to travel outside designated heavy-vehicle routes. Camera-based enforcement and fines are scheduled to begin on 1 October.

CIF Chief Executive Officer Bärbel Kirchner argued that the policy fails to distinguish between transit freight and construction vehicles. She noted that essential machinery, such as concrete trucks, cranes, and water tankers, must access specific sites for roads, schools, and housing rather than remaining on industrial bypasses.

The federation highlighted the financial burden, noting a N$600 non-refundable application fee and monthly charges of up to N$500 per vehicle. For a single vehicle exceeding 32 tonnes, annual permit costs could reach N$6,600. A company operating a fleet of 10 such vehicles could face N$66,000 in direct fees, which the CIF warns may be passed down the supply chain, potentially impacting fixed-price projects and the delivery of urban infrastructure.