Truckers fear insecurity in DRC as election announcement delays

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Truck Drivers Association says members who trek to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have registered security concerns.

Recently, DRC went to the polls to elect the President and other positions but according to that country’s electoral rules, it can even take 21 days to declare the winner at Presidential elections.

This was further fueling anxieties by the citizenry and other observers who felt the delay might give the incumbent an electoral advantage.

SADC Truck Drivers Association president, Eugene Ndhlovu, said in an interview on Wednesday that the situation was volatile.

“Some drivers as I speak are stuck in Congo while those venturing in are facing harassment,the security situation is volatile to say the least,” Ndhlovu said.

He noted that elections in DRC came with a lot of anxieties as most of the elections were disputed.

Ndhlovu stated that since elections were held, the lives of truck drivers had been in danger adding that two Tanzanian drivers, a South African and Zambians were recently attacked.

On the other hand, he indicated that truckers were happy with the upgrade of the Chingola- Kasumbalesa road.

Last year the government signed an 18-year concession agreement for the design, financing, building, operation, maintenance and transfer of 35 kilometer Chililabombwe-Kasumbalesa Road under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.

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