The multi million dollars business at Kasumbalesa Border – Zambia’s main trade route to the Democratic Republic of Congo – DRC by road servicing the entire Southern Africa countries that include South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Namibia has come to a stand still.
This was after the Zambian Drivers opted to boycott and riot over over harassment of truck drivers and some reported killing of two drivers. The drivers were joined by youths and careers which escalated the confusion, completely disrupting trade.
A source who asked for their name to be withheld told the Zambian Business Times – ZBT that some politicians in Zambia have decided to break the long standings business model were goods from Zambia and other Southern African countries are delivered at Kasumbalesa and then Congo DR local businesspersons and transporters take over.
“These well known politicians who are also businessmen have decided to strike a deal to deliver directly in Congo DR which has put some Congolese out of business and is what is causing some of these conflicts we are witnessing. You know our friends that side take things personal when local business is affected, so they hit back”, the source told ZBT.
And speaking in a separate exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, Kasumbalesa Trade Facilitation adviser Charles Kakoma disclosed that business has come to a stand still and that border has been temporarily closed because of the current protests.
“There is no activity in terms of business in Kasumbalesa and people were in homes such that gates are closed and Congolese were throwing stones from their side and also exchanging with the Zambian youths [political party cadres] and drivers.” he said.
Kakoma said the situation has however been calmed by the Zambian Paramilitary police who later intervened and quelled the situation. He said the Zambian government and Congo government should quickly address the the issue at Kasumbalesa.
“This problem has been persisting year after year for a long time now, so I suggest that Congo DR should give security to the Zambian and other foreign drivers trucking or delivery cargo in Congo to give confidence to the drivers.”
Efforts to get a comment from the Minister of Trade proved futile by press time. Expectations are however high that the issues will be resolved as this stand off is disrupting business not only in Zambia and Southern Africa, but East Africa as well as Tanzania also exports to DRC via Kasumbalesa.
The Ministry of Transport is also affected as traffic congestion continues to build up which is making businesses spend more on demurrage cost, delays in delivery and escalated labour costs of the affected drivers
