TANKER DRIVERS PROTEST

…Park trucks, demanding 50p.c. contracts

ZAMBIAN tanker drivers have parked their trucks in protest against failure by oil marketing companies (OMCs) to offer them 50 per cent contracts as pronounced by Government.

And Energy Minister, Mathew Nkhuwa warned of stern action against oil marketing companies that would not follow the government directive to give 50 percent of contracts to local transporters.

A representative of the drivers, Billian Manengo confirmed that the drivers had decided to park their trucks until Government addresses their plight.

Mr Manengo said that despite their cry, Government had not been helpful and that foreign companies had continued enjoying full contracts to transport fuel into the country at the expense of Zambians.

"We are tired of calling on Government to help, so we have decided to down tools until Government listens to us," he said.

Mr Manengo has refuted claims by OMCs that local transporters were more expensive than foreign transporters.

He said that OMCs wanted to compel a fuel price increase, but were told that Government would not hike prices, hence OMCs have opted to engage cheap labour.

Yesterday morning, drivers gathered at TAZAMA fuel depot and blocked other trucks from offload.

According to an eye witness, Robert Chikatula, the drivers blocked foreign trucks from offloading.

Mr Chikatula said that the drivers had threatened not to go back on the road until government addresses their issue. Recently, Energy Minister

Matthew Nkhuwa announced that Government had implemented the 50 per cent quota to be given to local transporters but OMCs were not offering the local transporters.

But OMCs president, Kafula Mubanga, said that foreign transporters were cheaper than local transporters.

Dr Mubanga local fuel transporters did not have capacity to transport 50 percent of the petroleum on the market and that it was cheaper to use foreign trucks as compared to Zambian trucks.