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Truckers Threaten To Boycott Kasumbalesa
FOUR main truckers trade associations have threatened to stop transporting freight into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) if the security of drivers, their crew, vehicles and consignment is not assured.
Their concerns come in the wake of security tension at Kasumbalesa Border Post following the killing of two drivers within a week.
The Copperbelt Open Truckers Association (COTA), Federation of Hauliers (FedHaul), Petroleum Transporters Association of Zambia (PTAZ) and Truckers Association of Zambia (TAZ) are gravely concerned about insecurity.
The associations expressed their concerns at a meeting last Thursday with the Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications as well as the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, to discuss how the Zambian trucking industry can be competitive and create more jobs for Zambians.
COTA president Benson Tembo said the associations have requested Government to consider completely closing the Kasumbalesa Border Post.
Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications Yamfwa Mukanga who regretted the killing of the two drivers at Kasumbalesa Border Post requested the Truckers Associations and their members to remain calm as Government is dealing with the matter at a high level using diplomatic channels.
On Friday, President Sata ordered security wings to ensure safety for all Zambians and foreigners at Kasumbalesa.
And the police say they are monitoring the situation at Kasumbalesa border post to ensure safety at one of the country’s busiest border posts.
Copperbelt Police Commissioner Joyce Kasosa said calm has returned at Kasumbalesa after police reinforced security.
“The situation is calm we have reinforced security at the border. We are going to continue monitoring the situation on the ground,” Ms Kasosa said.
Ms Kasosa said business activities by both Zambians and foreigners have resumed but police is alert for criminal activities.
Zambia Revenue Authority Kasumbalesa station manager Levy Simatimbe said the border is operational with about 300 trucks crossing into the DRC last Friday.
“There is a long queue of trucks from the border to Chililabombwe. We hope to have the same number of trucks cross into DRC today (yesterday),” he said.
Meanwhile, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) secretary general Sindiso Ngwenya is concerned that the killings of truck drivers at Kasumbalesa border post will negatively affect trade between Zambia and the DRC and the region as a whole.
Mr Ngwenya said trade between Zambia and the DRC, which are both COMESA member states, has been affected considering that the DRC mainly depends on food supplies from Zambia.
He has urged the DRC and Zambia to urgently come up with a sustainable solution for the security concern.
He said Zambia’s exports into the DRC currently exceed a billion dollars annually, hence the need for the two governments to quickly find a lasting solution to strengthen trade between the two countries.
Mr Ngwenya said COMESA is on stand-by to see how it can intervene in the matter as Zambia and the DRC address the challenge.
Posted by Editor
on February 9, 2014. Filed under LATEST NEWS.
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Musonda
February 9, 2014 at 9:33 am
Plz jast closs that boder, its them who are goin to sufer not us.
Truck Driver Ernest
February 9, 2014 at 10:35 am
2 govt mast build werehouse to ofload the goods at the border then the congolies wl collect frm there
By Ernest Truck Driver
FuManchu
February 9, 2014 at 7:34 pm
Ernest this is the most plausible solution and why government should dilly dally over it is anybody’s guess! The Truckers Trade Associations have to push for this idea which will create jobs for our people (goods transfer) and those against it should be left to continue going into DRC at their own risk. Maybe the delays, costs and inconveniences will cause the Congolese to become sensible
joe
February 9, 2014 at 11:29 am
please lets close that boarder and c who isx going to stalve most
Malambo Man Phiri
February 9, 2014 at 9:44 pm
Both Zambia and DRC will suffer if you close the border. Trade between neighbouring countries is like oxygen for us humans
chize
February 9, 2014 at 12:50 pm
JUST build a rail-line, that will also save our roads.
Bravo
February 9, 2014 at 2:12 pm
What these Kasais do is more or less bitting the finger that feeds you. The onus is on the Congolese Govt to tame its citizens otherwise I would suggest that the border is closed off for at least 6 months and we see who is going to suffer the most. Kutumpa sana for citizens of country not to value the lives of foreigners. Kutumpa how can they be killing people at will nad this ***** Katumbi is saiying it happens everywhere ati his elder was killed in Kitwe who killed him if not his fellow crooks from the DRC/
Mambala
February 10, 2014 at 8:53 am
Aba ba kaboke nabaya sana. How long shall they kill our drivers and we stand there and watch???
TC
February 10, 2014 at 2:39 pm
Our colleagues need to get serious over this matter. We are talking about lives lost here. Let the truckers boycott this border for at least six months. We may also suffer by way of loss of business but what is more precious than life. I am sure the DRC people will feel the pinch more and just maybe then they will be serious in addressing this issue.
CALLED WISE
February 10, 2014 at 8:47 pm
Strong measures are to be put in place by officials from both countries so that that evil wind does not blow again and those bad elements be severely dealt with. Closing that border will create a big loss in term of revenues of both sides. We too have relatives, brothers, families and friends living in Congo side (Sakania, Mokambo, Kipushi, Kashobwe, Lwena, Rwashi…) Why should million innocents suffer because of a banch of law breakers? Unga zonde neighbour wako but you need him to buy malasha yamene utantika ku rodi.
Shanji
February 13, 2014 at 10:00 am
closing the boarder will not be the solution.chililabombwe town will suffer. there is another way that Congolese came into Zambia. That is through the market that joins Zambia and congo