ZAMBIA, CONGO TO OPEN THEIR BORDERS 24/7
By Scoop Reporter
ZAMBIA and the Democratic Republic of Congo have agreed to put in place procedures to allow for 24-hour border operations at Kasumbalesa, Sakanya, Mukambo, and Kipushi effective today.
The two countries have also agreed that in the interim, the time between 06:00 to 20:00 be dedicated towards entry and exit of trucks with a targeted minimum of 800 trucks to be cleared to exit the Republic of Zambia into the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In a joint communiqué whose English version was read by Zambia’s Minister of Transport and Logistics Frank Tayali, the move is aimed at resolving congestion on the Kasumbalesa border and that the countries have also unanimously agreed to commit themselves towards expediting the implementation of all outstanding actions from previous bilateral agreements.
Other resolutions made are that Sakanya, Mukambo, and Kipushi borders will operate fully fledged for all types of commercial traffic from 06:00 am to 18:00 and that trucks of all nationalities be allowed to enter the Democratic Republic of Congo through Kipushi border.
The two countries have also agreed to hold another meeting in Sakanya border on the Democratic Republic of Congo side on a date to be agreed upon.
Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Chipoka Mulenga signed the communiqué on behalf of the Republic of Zambia while his Congo counterpart Bussa Tongba Jean Lucien, who was not present, will sign his part and a copy will be sent back to Zambia.
The delegation from the Democratic Republic of Congo was led by Katanga Province Governor, Jacques Kyabula Katwe.