Drivers targeted in border shootings

Corruption and inefficiency is the root cause of the recent truck driver shootings at the Kasumbalesa border post from Zambia into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) – a key road freight border post on the Copperbelt – FTW has learnt. News reports from Zambia claim that the Zimbabwean truck driver slain early this month is the latest victim of at least five reported shootings since December 2013. Four main trucker trade associations, including the Truckers Association of Zambia and the Copperbelt Open Truckers Association, have threatened to stop transporting freight in the DRC unless the security of the drivers, crew, vehicles and consignments can be guaranteed, reports the Zambian Daily Mail. “According to information on the ground, an earlier incident where a Zambian truck driver was killed on January 29 this year occurred in the DRC, with the driver en-route to Zambia. An unsubstantiated report alleges that a government security officer asked for some money to facilitate the movement of the truck. The proceedings ended in a scuffle that led to the death of the Zambian driver,” said Mark Pearson, programme director at TradeMark Southern Africa. The latest incident – where a Zimbabwean driver driving a South African truck lost his life – is still being investigated, said Pearson. He noted that the driver was found dead in the cabin of his horse, parked on the Zambian side of the border, awaiting clearance. “Based on the information we’ve received, drivers have always been bribed at this point and it now seems they are being targeted if they refuse to pay,” said Steve Oosthuizen, divisional director of Vehicle Delivery Services. A Zambianbased trucking company owner, who wishes to remain anonymous, told FTW that the corruption, violence and intimidation at the border were a long-standing problem that seemed to have escalated. “Corruption is rife at this border post and unfortunately the One-Stop-Border concept has failed as there are too many third party operators involved and the opportunity for selfenrichment is simply too great,” he said. Pearson added that there were several underlying issues that caused conflict and frustration at the border, including the fact that Zambia charges $19/axle while the DRC charges $100 simply to enter the control zone. “The general feeling is that if this charge is accompanied by an improved border operation, it is tolerable but at the moment the service the transporters are getting does not justify this charge,” Pearson said. CAPTION Truck drivers are being targeted at the Kasumbalesa Border Post between Zambia and the DRC. Photo: TradeMark Southern Africa