MBABANE – Landlocked Eswatini is in no position to have its borders closed because of a pandemic, or for any other reason.The country which receives 80% of its goods, including all its petroleum products, from South Africa, mostly by road, is concerned after the shutdown by South Africa of six border posts with Eswatini.
However, the principal border posts are still operating. Commercial traffic is moving normally through the western Oshoek border post, which is Eswatini’s main point of entry from South Africa.“We do not foresee the closure of the borders to commercial traffic,” Musa Maseko, head of trade and commerce for Business Eswatini (formerly the Federation of Swaziland Employers/Chamber of Commerce) told FTW.
“For instance, we have a strategic stockpile of fuel that will only last the country for a day and a half. So a border closure would shut the country down.” Contingency plans are being discussed by the umbrella body of Eswatini businesses as the fast-evolving coronavirus situation is expected to affect commercial truck drivers plying the key routes to Johannesburg, Durban and Nelspruit.
The west (Oshoek), east (Matsamo) and northern (Mananga) border posts to these cities are soon be centres of medical activity aimed at truck drivers, even if these borders are closed to human traffic. The border post with Mozambique remains open.Although the new body is not yet officially registered, Eswatini’s road freight hauliers are assembling under a Road Freight Association.
The employers’ body Business Eswatini is working with the haulier initiative on a mitigation plan should Covid-19 incapacitate truck drivers.“The contingency plan is about back-up drivers,” Musi Musuko, CEO of the Road Freight Association, told FTW.
“We have to keep the trucks rolling. We have to find ways to quarantine sick drivers and get them medical assistance if it comes to that. Drivers go all over in their work. They come into contact with lots of people. When you look at how the virus is spreading, there’s a feeling that it has to hit the driver workforce.”
While concerned about Covid-19 infection, Swazi drivers who spoke to FTW said they were grateful to have work at a time when more of the workforce in the country was being told to stay home.“I would want to be on the road (instead of having) no job and no pay. My wife’s worried. I should sleep in the truck and not go home,” said Colin Abner, a driver for Maqalf Transport in Matsapha, on the prospect of self-quarantine. “But winter’s coming, and that’s a problem.”
