Truck drivers threaten to halt operations, give DRC three weeks ultimate to improve security

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Truck Drivers Association has called on authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to address the security situation along the Kasumbalesa route.

Association president, Eugene Ndhlovu, said failure to address the security situation would result into the trucker’s halting entry into the DRC.

He said the government had given the government up to August 15, 2023, to improve the security situation, failure to which a protest would be held to halt entry.

In an interview on Wednesday, Ndhlovu said that regional meetings held to resolve security issues in that country had not yielded results.

“We have continued receiving disturbing complaints from our members concerning the security situation in the DRC,our drivers are being attacked on a daily basis and the security and safety of our drivers is compromised,” Ndhlovu said.

He said truck drivers and transporters had reached an agreement to stop going to the DRC if the concerns of truckers were not resolved by August 15, this year.

Ndhlovu said there was a need for a practical solution to the security issue because life was precious, adding that truck drivers cannot continue risking their lives.

He added that there was also a need to compel the DRC to honour various trade protocols and agreements that the mineral rich country have continued committing to without tangible results.

“The DRC should start honouring various protocols and agreements the country has been committing itself to so that the lives of drivers are safe,” Ndhlovu said.

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