Hundreds of DRC-bound trucks marooned for months finally cleared
HUNDREDS Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)-bound trucks that have been marooned between Kitwe and Kasumbalesa Border Post for months have finally been cleared.
This is barely a week after President Hakainde Hichilema had called for an end to persistent traffic congestion.
Chililabombwe District Commissioner Precious Njekwa confirmed the development yesterday and said the trucks that had been marooned had all since been cleared.
She said the trucks were all in the truck bay on the Zambian and Congolese side.
Ms Njekwa said her office was now pushing to see to it that trucks from the bay were cleared.
“The hundred of trucks that were recently marooned along the road from Kitwe all the way to Kasumbalesa have been cleared finally. The road is now free as there are no more trucks along the way. Apparently they are in the truck bays on both the Zambian and Congolese side,” she said.
Last week, President Hakainde Hichilema had called for an end to traffic congestion at Kasumbalesa following persistent disruptions in the flow of trucks ferrying various cargo.
Ms Njekwa also added that she hoped the state of affairs of the road being free from trucks would remain the same.
There have been concerns from stakeholders in the province on the need for government to quickly resolve the congestion as it was posing a threat road users and truck drivers due to lack of sanitation facilities.
Copperbelt Minister Elisha Matambo assured of government’s commitment of easing movement of vehicles.
President Hichilema had last week Friday directed the ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry to engage stakeholders from both Zambia and the DRC to find a lasting solution to the perennial problem.
He had said this when new DRC Ambassador Didier Bapaga presented his credentials at State House in Lusaka.
President Hichilema said other routes to DRC such as the Kolwezi-Lumwana, Mukambo, Kipushi and Sakania border areas should be opened to develop business and trade for the two countries.
