MAINTAIN PEACE

IT is good that the Zambian government has acted swiftly to ensure that peace has been restored at the Kasumbalesa border that links Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The border crossing point is one of the busiest in this part of the world and any disruption in the movement of goods on either side has serious economic consequences.

These also trickle down to the small-scale traders around the border area whose livelihood depend on the border facilities operating smoothly.

Government sent Defence Minister Ambrose Lufuma to intervene in restoring peace at the Kasumbalesa border after truck drivers and their Congolese counterparts clashed for almost two days.

Mr Lufuma’s visit came barely three days after his Copperbelt counterpart, Mr Elisha Matambo also visited the area with the Katanga Governor in a bid to quell the tension.

The Zambian delegation included Mr Lufuma, Home Affairs and Internal Security Minister Jack Mwiimbu, and Mr Matambo of the Copperbelt Province.

“In Kasumbalesa with our counterparts from the DRC in resolving the impasse of truckers refusing to transit into Congo DR until security is provided,” Mr Lufuma said.

It is important that Government takes any reports that that threaten the lives of Zambian drivers seriously while they are in the Congo DR.

It is only fair that the Zambian government must get assurance from the Congo DR authorities that they will ensure that the Zambian truckers are safe in that country.

What started as a sit-in protest on the Zambian side quickly degenerated into open hostility as Zambians stocked Congolese from carrying out any form of business across the no-man’s land.

According to an eye witness, the situation at the border worsened following the continued sitin protest by truck drivers on the Zambian side at the no-man’s land that was blocked with no trucks from Congo DR. He said the truck drivers at the Kasumbalesa border blocked Congolese from walking into the Zambian side for purchasing anything or taking merchandise into Congo.

We are not surprised that this action could have infuriated the Congolese that saw them start throwing stones to the Zambian side.

We are glad that the two governments, according to Mr Lufuma “in a cordial and friendly atmosphere resolved that security would be provided by the DRC colleagues in their country.

“We would like to thank our Congolese counterparts for the cooperation and commitment to resolving the problem. The riotous behaviour and looting which ensued has been stopped and calm has been restored in the border town of Kasumbalesa,” he said.

There are no winners when people fail to sit and find solutions to problems when they arise. As everyone noted at Kasumbalesa, normal trade was disrupted and the worst affected were the smallscale traders whose livelihood depend on the border operating normally.

If anything, truck drivers must also be advised how to go about airing their grievances and avoid situations that might lead to riots as witnessed in the last few days.

“We would like to thank our Congolese counterparts for the cooperation and commitment to resolving the problem. The riotous behaviour and looting which ensued has been stopped and calm has been restored in the border town of Kasumbalesa,” Mr Lufuma said.

Calm is what will bring prosper to all.