(By ZANIS)
Truck drivers in transit to Kasumbalesa have complained that they are spending more than seven days from Chingola to reach Kasumbalesa border post.
The Drivers say queues of trucks marooned enroute to Kasumbalesa border have reached into Chambeshi and Chingola.
And Speaking with ZANIS in Chingola , Chingola District Commissioner Raphael Chimupi attributed the long queues of trucks stretching way beyond Chambishi to the attitude of officials from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Mr Chimupi said the working hours of the Congolese officials are unpredictable as they, sometimes open the border at 09:30hours and close at 13:00hrs.
He said Zambia is ready to push on vehicles from the Zambian side but Congo’s working ethics are causing congestion.And a Zimbabwean Truck Driver Peter Makombe is appealing to the government to find a permanent solution at Kasumbalesa border post.
Mr Makombe said the challenges they are facing in Zambia are delaying them from being cleared at the border.He said the most challenging thing is sanitation problems as there are no toilets, and a lot of money is spent in terms of food and other needs.
And Tanzanian Truck Driver Yusuph Ngaranda said immigration is giving them seven days before they are cleared and it’s taking them seven days from Chingola to reach the border.
The Drivers are also calling on the government to make truck shops so that trucks with documents may park in designated places.Source: ZNBC, ZANIS