The Southern Africa Development Community-SADC Cross Border Traders Association says the signing of Statutory Instrument (SI) No. 36 of 2022 does not formalise most of the trade happening between Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Association Executive Director Jacob Makambwe said the Zambian side of the Sakania border does not have the infrastructure that can facilitate smooth trade between the two countries and clearly shows that there are no business activities taking place at the border.
Last month, Acting Finance and National Planning Minister Paul Kabuswe signed Statutory Instrument No.36 of 2022, which now includes Sakania border among the borders through which goods for export can exit Zambia into the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Speaking in an interview with the Zambian Business Times-ZBT, Makambwe explained that just signing an SI to formalise trade is not enough and traders want to see government put up infrastructure that will facilitate trade between Zambia and DRC otherwise Sakania border will just be a passage.
“On the DRC side you could even see that they have even put where they are parking the trucks, there are truck parks-the concrete where the trucks are actually parking and we are actually seeing the buildings, the warehousing buildings so it means that those people are ready to do business”, he said.
Makambwe noted that the association understands that signing the SI entails that there will be increased business between Zambia and DRC using Sakania border but lack of infrastructure will make people feel Kasumbalesa border is better than Sakania because it may only be utilised by the truck drivers.
He said government needs to prioritise border infrastructure, which is automated like the one-stop border post adding that improved infrastructure will improve both the security and facilitation as well as bring about meaningful development and income to the country.
Makambwe added that the advantage of a one-stop border post is that it facilitates quicker clearance and movement of goods and services including people.
“Sort out the security issues with DRC; sort out the infrastructure which is lacking especially on Sakania border, sort out the road infrastructure between Zambia and DRC, Kipushi road going to Kolwezi. The road infrastructure must be prioritized, border infrastructure must be prioritized, there is need for improvement and putting up of proper border management infrastructure”, he said.
He has appealed to government to address the security issues affecting Zambia and DRC as gruesome murders of Zambian truck drivers as well as other people trading in the DRC have continued.
“If DRC does not want to formalise in terms of security issues or deal with security measures that we keep on complaining about there is need for government to build a dry port. It should be a one stop port, all goods taken to DRC are supposed to be cleared in Chingola, away from the border crossings so that activities that bring conflict are dealt with inland other than at the border where there is fragile security”, Makambwe said.
