NAKONDE RIDDLE

THE situation in Nakonde worries us. The Zambian government has since the weekend placed Nakonde on a total lockdown so as to carry out a disinfection and screening exercise for the district. But Nakonde is not just on the Zambian side. From what we know, the Tanzanian government has not adopted the same stringent measures as their Zambian colleagues. This means that much as the Zambian side is taking precautions, the danger still looms from Tanzania. It has been established that the bulk of Covid-19 infections recorded in Zambia have been traced through Nakonde, which borders Tanzania to the north. Zambia must therefore approach the Tanzanian government and see how the exercise could be done simultaneously on either side of the border. We know from foreign media that Tanzania’s President John Magufuli has not been as forthcoming as his colleagues over the Covid-19 pandemic, that he has been accused of downplaying the danger. While several African countries - Kenya, Uganda, South Africa and Zambia had imposed some form of lockdowns over certain sectors of the economy, President Magufuli has allowed churches and mosques to remain open, claiming that healing will come from there. We realise that Zambia, being a landlocked country is in a dilemma. It has to go through the diplomatic route to get Tanzania to act. Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta at the weekend ordered the closure of the country’s land borders with Tanzania and Somalia except for cargo transport. The order came into effect at midnight on Saturday. Testing for the coronavirus at border posts will be compulsory for all drivers. President Kenyatta said 78 truck drivers had tested positive in the last week and had been denied permission to enter. In recent weeks there have been lengthy queues at the border between Uganda and Kenya where mandatory testing has already begun. While we do not enjoy the luxury that Kenya has for example of having an outlet to the sea, we appeal to Government to impress upon the Tanzanian government on the need to work together. It won’t help much to have Nakonde on a lockdown for some days while there is nothing done on the other side. Those people on the border are one big extended family who mingle freely over the porous border. The customs and immigration posts are a mere formality. There are countless footpaths they use to cross either side. Government must be commended by the manner it is handling the novel coronavirus pandemic that has thrown the world’s economy and social life into disarray. President Edgar Lungu has had to contend and balance the economic and social needs of the people in arriving at the best possible way to tackle the virus. There has been a robust public health education drive throughout the country about the new normal that emphasises the use of hand sanitisers, social distancing as well as stopping handshakes – something quite unZambian. While the effort has been a success so far, our concern is over the country’s border entry points. Muchinga Province Minister, Malozo Sichone who has been leading the multi-sectoral team in Nakonde experienced firsthand the problem at hand when a horde of Tanzanians on scooters tried to beat the lockdown. Mr Sichone, said police officers and Government officials were stunned that foreigners could attempt to get into Nakonde at the height of a total lockdown when no one could have transacted with them. That Mr Minister is what must be worked on, ensuring that health risks on either side of the border are eliminated.