Payment of Storage Fees During Lockdown Complaints

The Competition and Consumer Authority (CCA) has been inundated with complaints from the business community, and members of the public, whose goods were transported in shipping containers which unfortunately arrived during the lockdown period. The inevitable consequence of the lockdown was that shipping containers could not be cleared nor collected during lockdown due to movement restrictions.

The CCA has been informed that some shipping line businesses are compelling clients to pay for storage costs (demurrage) during the lockdown phase. This has evidently compounded the economic situation for a lot of the concerned businesses and individuals during this period of slow economic recovery.

The CCA fully supports Government of Botswana’s initiatives to restore the economy to fully recovery. The Authority, has in this regard, amicably intervened in a number of complaints related to payment of storage of containers, and would like to thank the Mediterranean Shipping Company (Botswana), the market leader, who have graciously agreed to waive all demurrages fees and released the containers they held.

The CCA encourages businesses and members of the public who are affected by this practice (demurrage) to consult the CCA for resolution.

The CCA can be reached at:

Telephone:   3934278

Email:            info@competitionauthority.co.bw

Facebook:     Competition and Consumer Authority - Botswana

Website:        https://www.competitionauthority.co.bw/contact-us