Now Kasumbalesa congestion stretches to Chingola

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) authorities are only allowing entry of 200 trucks per day instead of the usual 500 vehicles because of the on-going construction of the truck stop in the neighbouring country.

THE traffic congestion at Kasumbalesa border Post in Chililabombwe has worsened with the queue of trucks stretching as far as Helen area in Chingola, a nearby town.

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) authorities are only allowing 200 trucks per day instead of the usual 500 vehicles entry because of the on-going construction of the truck stop in the neighbouring country.

District Commissioner (DC) Paul Mulenga said the situation has worsened because there was no space where trucks could park, hence slowing the pace at which the trucks were entering the DRC.

Mr Mulenga said in an interview in Chililabombwe the situation was also worsened because trucks were getting stuck on the new truck stop which was being constructed as the area was muddy.

“The situation has worsened. Right now, the queue of trucks has reached as far as Helen. The situation has worsened because there is no parking space on the DRC side. On Tuesday, from 15.00hours to 17.00hours, there was no movement of trucks entering into DRC.

“Some trucks which are trying to park on the new truck stop are getting stuck because there is no concrete and the area has become muddy,’’ Mr Mulenga said.

Last week, the build-up of trucks reached 3,000 on the Zambian side, stretching from Kasumbalesa to Chililabombwe-Chingola road.

The congestion was due to rising traffic into the DRC at a time when the authorities in that country were expanding the truck stop.

Mr Mulenga said the Chililabombwe Municipal Council was in the process of putting up a truck stop on the Zambia side under the Public Private-Partnership (PPP) to help deal with the problem of congestion.

In the last one month, there has been serious congestion at Kasumbalesa border Post with trucks queuing up to Chililabombwe-Chingola road.