Truck blockade chokes border

…Over 1,500 trucks stranded

OVER 1, 500 trucks destined for Zambia and beyond have been stuck on the Tanzanian side at Nakonde-Tunduma border following a five-day strike by the Tanzanian truck drivers last week.

The drivers refused to move their vehicles into Zambia for allegedly being harassed by the police.

Even though operations at the border had resumed on Friday, a check by the Daily Nation yesterday, found over 1, 500 trucks still parked on the road waiting to be cleared on the Tanzanian side.

According to Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) Assistant Customs Manager Jomimmassa Nsindo, the drivers accused the Zambian police of setting up too many roadblocks and seizing money from them.

Mr Nsindo however, condemned the protest by the drivers, saying it was illegal and could not be condoned.

He said Zambia and Tanzania shared a good working relationship and operations at the border had since resumed after discussions between authorities from both sides.

"We received a mere complaint from the drivers that they were not treated well in Zambia and most of the harassment was coming from the police.

"After studying the situation, we told them that Zambia was a free nation and it has the right to protect the country by doing what they think is safe, but corruption on the side of the police cannot be tolerated.

"We had discussions with the Zambian authorities and we assured the drivers that there will no longer be such things," Mr Nsindo said.

He said operating hours at the border had since been increased by two hours to allow clearance of more trucks.

"We have a lot of trucks coming from Tanzania, we have increased working hours from 20:00 hours to 22:00 hours and we are almost clearing about 400 vehicles a day," he said.

And Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) Commissioner - Customs Services Sydney Chibbabbuka said the strike by the drivers had affected tax collection on the Zambian side.

"Zambia is an importing country and we collect trade taxes into the country, when there is a distraction it reduces tax collection," Mr Chibbabbuka said.

Meanwhile, Muchinga Province Permanent Secretary Bright Nundwe said the government had taken note of the complaints by the Tanzanian drivers.

Mr Nundwe said both Zambia and Tanzania were dependent on the border, therefore the two countries could not afford distraction at the border.

Mr Nundwe has since warned that any Zambia police officer found wanting would have to face the law.

He also urged the authorities in Tanzania to put in place security measures to protect Zambian drivers. “Zambia and Tanzania have been known to be peaceful and we want the people of both countries to trade peacefully. We had discussions with the authority on the Tanzanian side and we have also talked to our officers here," Mr Nundwe said.