SADC TRUCK DRIVERS THREATEN TO SUSPEND MOVEMENTS WITHIN THE REGION UNTIL CONGESTION AT KASUMBALESA BORDER IS CLEARED
By Michael Kaluba
The Southern African Development Community-SADC Truck Drivers Association has warned that the sustained 4 months congestion towards the Kasumbalesa border post will leave drivers with no choice but to suspend movements within the region until the issue is resolved.
Association Chairperson Eugene Ndlovhu has also suggested that Zambia suspends admission of transit trucks headed to Democratic Republic of Congo-DRC until the current congestion is cleared amidst a lack of implementation of resolutions made from bilateral talks such as making Kasumbalesa a 24 hours border post besides making Sakanya and other border points operational.
And the Petroleum Transporters Association of Zambia-PTAZ president Benson Tembo says the stagnant traffic towards the Kasumbalesa border has resulted in a situation where drivers are exchanging parking lots without water and toilets, losing out cargo, money and turnaround time.
But Transport and Logistics Minister Frank Tayali says implementation of the various resolutions from bilateral talks now sorely rests on the Congolese government completing internal consultations since the Zambian government is ready to seek long term solutions to the problem.
Meanwhile, a check by Phoenix News yesterday found that estimated 70 kilometers congestion from Chambishi to Kasumbalesa is now posing a real danger to motorists with two of the 4 lanes completely covered by stagnant long vehicles while the only two available lanes are also disturbed by multiple breakdowns, leaving one route effective for both directions of traffic.
PHOENIX NEWS