Recurring issues of inefficiency and extortion, often with law enforcement and Customs personnel as principal participants accused of preying on transporters, has once again been exposed on one of the most important over-border corridors of the Southern African Development Community (SA DC) – the north-south line between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and South Africa.In a violent incident reported recently on the Whatsapp feed of Transist, the transit assistance bureau of the Federation of East and Southern African Transport (Fesarta), a truck driver travelling south of Kolwezi in the DRC was robbed of money that is mostly required to pay border-crossing fees.The message posted on the Whatsapp feed showed that the incident had happened south of Lake Nzilo on the N39, the road that leads through Lubumbashi to the DRC’s border with Zambia.Truck drivers in the area were asked to assist the driver, only known as “L aw renc e”.The message said: “He was attacked by police and needs money to get back.”It was the sort of thing, said Fesarta CEO Mike Fitzmaurice, that had been happening for years.“Road police officers hit on drivers in remote areas and take their money.”The N39 between Kolwezi and Lubumbashi seems to be particularly prone to police and soldiers acting as both protectors and pursuers.Last year FTW witnessed video footage showing how officials in chevron jackets stopped and assailed truck drivers seated in their cabins north of Lubumbashi.The truck in question pulled off after police on motorbikes opened fire, with one shot having shattered the truck’s windscreen on the driver’s side.North of Kasumbalesa, the notoriously congested copper belt crossing between the DRC and Zambia, soldiers were at one stage reportedly forcing trucks off the road at gunpoint, manhandling truck drivers and lifting cash and possessions.In one incident near Likasi, also on the N39, a truck driver f led for his life, leaving his rig unattended as officers closed in to help themselves to the spoils.As for the situation at Customs right across the north-south line, the situation is equally dire with hauliers having to deal with hold-ups on a daily basis.More recently it was reported that the Sydonia system on the DRC-side at Kasumbalesa was once more hampered by poor connectivity – an old issue.Fitzmaurice told Transist members: “Sydonia’s signal has not improved to allow for the registration of declarations and the team that worked a night-shift (to alleviate if not solve matters) could do nothing.”At the time of going to press, systems-related delays at Kasumbulesa had already resulted in trucks queueing for kilometres north and south of the borderMeanwhile Kasumbulesa’s town council has decided to institute a $30 transit fee for tankers passing through their town.“What for?” Fitzmaurice said.“It’s not as if they’re helping truck drivers with ablution facilities, protection or other services to make things easier for them. It’s just another way to squeeze more money out of transporters.”
INSERT: Road police officers hit on drivers in remote areas and take their money.– Mike Fitzmaurice
