Regional truckers to meet in Nairobi next year

The second Truckers’ Forum is set to take place in Nairobi, Kenya, in March next year – but with a new name. According to organiser Barney Curtis, executive director of the Federation of East and Southern African Road Transport Associations (Fesarta), the forum will in future be known as the Road Transport Forum in order to attract a wider audience. “It allows us to also bring the passenger side of the business on board as they experience many of the same problems as the truckers face on a daily basis,” said Curtis. “At the second forum we will take the problems and solutions drafted at the first forum in Johannesburg and present them to the wider audience along with what has happened in between the two events. We’ll then workshop that further and come up with an updated and even more in-depth document to present to the Tripartite Alliance that includes SADC, EAC and Comesa.” Curtis said the forum would alternate annually between Johannesburg and Nairobi “We have already approached the EAC for their input and they are of the opinion that the forum must be raised to a higher level within the East African community, which is why it is important that it is not only held in southern Africa.” Curtis said truckers operated from Johannesburg to Nairobi on a daily basis and many of the problems were not country specific. Finding regional solutions is what would have the most impact. The Kenya Transport Association has also been approached to be involved in the forum that will hopefully draw as big a crowd as the first forum that took place in Johannesburg. “The forum approach will not bring about quick solutions. In fact it is going to take time, but we are doing it in a practical and sensible manner that will bring about long-term change,” said Curtis. ‘Working in a practical and sensible manner that will bring about long-term change.’