KASUMBALESA CONGESTION ‘CLEARS’

TRUCKS that were marooned at Kasumbalesa border on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) side, have started moving as the clearing system which developed a fault has now started working.

There was congestion at the border when the clearing system developed a fault last week as truck drivers complained of lack of security.

A trader, Emmanuel Mweetwa, told the Daily Nation in an interview in Chililabombwe yesterday that the trucks had started moving and that there was less congestion at the busy border area.

He however said there was need for both the Congolese and the Zambian authorities to create more clearing centres to expedite the clearing process.

Meanwhile, traders have urged the Government and other stakeholders in the country to consider constructing a modern market at the border post on the Zambian side.

Kasumbalesa border post is one of the busiest borders and trading areas in the country which needs proper and modern trading infrastructure for traders to conduct their businesses in a conducive and clean environment.

Mr Mweetwa said infrastructure at the border was not conducive apart from the modern one-stop border building which houses the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA), the Immigration Department and other institutions.

"Property developers in the country should take advantage of some of the underutilized land at the border post by erecting modern office apartments, housing units, a small industrial park, shopping malls and other social amenities ," Mr Mweetwa said.