DEMOCRATIC Republic of Congo’s Katanga Province governor Moses Katumbi has assured drivers from all countries in the region of safety in that country following the killing of a Zambian truck driver Derrick Chanda.
Mr Katumbi has also condemned the people who torched Mr Chanda in his truck on Wednesday evening after he allegedly knocked down two pedestrians who were in a funeral procession.
“Security is in place and we are here to protect everyone. So they [drivers] should feel safe when they are here,” Mr Katumbi said in an exclusive telephone interview from Lubumbashi yesterday.
He said although Mr Chanda allegedly killed two people, it was wrong for the mob to mete out instant mob justice on him. “We can’t allow people to take the law into their hands because we want to protect everyone,” he said.
He said the incident happened at a village in the bush where there was no police presence. Mr Katumbi said the Katanga government has deployed security personnel to the area and have apprehended some suspects accused of taking part in burning Mr Chanda and the truck he was driving.
The Katanga governor-cum-businessman, who spent a long time in Zambia before relocating to the DRC, said his government is determined to maintain warm relations between the two countries. “Congo and Zambia used to be one country before the whites [colonialists] demarcated the borders. We are brothers and we speak the same languages,” he said.
He urged Congolese to desist from any acts of violence against foreigners, saying such conduct can cause diplomatic tiffs.
And Minister of Home Affairs Kennedy Sakeni has directed police to be alert and arrest anyone staging reprisal attacks against innocent Congolese living in Zambia. Some people yesterday attacked Congolese traders at Soweto market in retaliation.
Mr Sakeni said some criminal elements have taken advantage of the situation and are engaging in criminal activities following the incident.
“People must appreciate the regrettable circumstances under which the incident happened. It was a spontaneous reaction by mourners who vented their anger on the driver after he ploughed his truck into the mourners.
“It was not a planned action. We have Zambians living and doing business in Congo and we don’t need acrimony. Let’s continue living in harmony. I have directed the police to be alert and criminal elements that have taken advantage of the situation will be dealt with,” he said
Mr Sakeni said the authorities will ensure that nobody takes advantage of the situation to create a rift between Zambia and Congo. “We have always lived as one…. we have a long history and most tribes in Zambia originally hailed from Congo,” Mr Sakeni said.
He said Mr Katumbi called him yesterday and assured him that all is well along the border and that Zambians travelling to DRC should feel free. “Other areas of concern will be discussed at the region-to-region meetings between Katanga, Copperbelt and Luapula provinces because these can’t wait for the Joint Permanent Commission and I urge officers at the borders to meet regularly and resolve common problems,” he said.
Meanwhile, NKOMBO KACHEMBA reports that the protest by Southern African Development Community (SADC) truck drivers at Kasumbalesa border over the murder of Mr Chanda has continued.
A check by the Sunday Mail at the border post found trucks marooned at the clearance bay, while others lined up on a 19-kilometre-long queue. The truck drivers have also blocked the entrance for heavy duty vehicles at the Kasumbalesa border facility clearing bay.
And on the DRC side, the truck drivers have parked their vehicles in solidarity with their colleagues on the Zambian side. There is a heavy presence of police in full riot gear keeping vigil.
SADC Drivers Association chairperson, Stanley Muluka said the drivers will continue with the work stoppage until they are addressed by senior government officials from the two countries. Mr Muluka alleged that truck drivers passing through the DRC have suffered harassment and intimidation from police officers and some local people for a long time.
He said the DRC government should put a stop to the alleged harassment. “We are demanding that top officials from the DRC and the Zambian government address us to resolve this problem of harassment. As truck drivers from the SADC region, we have been experiencing a lot of harassment from Congolese nationals,” Mr Muluka said.
Mr Muluka described the killing of Mr Chanda as inhuman. He said Mr Chanda’s brutal murder has instilled fear in the drivers because their security is not guaranteed.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
well said cousin clear out the mob we need biz in congo
it was a very bad a,ct which should be condemened at all costs, there is no one who likes accidents, an accident is an accident, better punishing him than burning him in the truck, something should really be done to stop these evil acts by our congolese countyerparts.
Let the mother Fs starve. Close the border for at least one week.
Drivers should be very strong on this one, not telephone calls between Katumbi and Sekani taking people’s lives for granteered. It is too much from Congo and the Kaboke police of theirs. Respect for respect, we should play by the same rules. Ma salvage ma Congoleses
How did Congo enter SADC with all its human rights violation record?
An eye for an eye, Congolese have been *****s for far too long.
Mubweshe Na katanga province yesu.
These kabokes should be dealt with, chase them from Zambia, nakalipa sana, they are very
dubious people, corrupt, i do not envy them be it in disapora, they steal our previous passport and as for the green ones, they wont put their hands on, no way KABOKES.
dont go there for two weeks, u will see how their stomachs will crumble. idi0ts!
Sakeni and Katumbi must meet at the border in the presense of the drivers. If that does not happen, the strike must continue. We have to be serious.
An eye for an eye. We must retaliate in full. These fools are taking us for granted
Katumbi said, and quote: “Congo and Zambia used to be one country before the whites [colonialists] demarcated the borders. We are brothers and we speak the same languages,” So these tailed primates of the Ituri resident in Zambia wielding power in the corridors of state should not deny their savage relatives any longer. They all behave the same!
ukutumpa,tabakufundile ba wiso.
Mr Katumbi said the Katanga government has deployed security personnel to the area and have apprehended some suspects accused of taking part in burning Mr Chanda and the truck he was driving.
How many governments are in Congo? can someone tell me, i might be wrong to think there two or three. Kinshasa government etc. Chipata government, Namwala or Kabwe government. Lets teach them a lesson the protest should continue!
Congolese are violent by nature, katumbi has plenty of his hakuna matata trucks which take copper to RSA, what if the zambian guys gang up and attack his drivers, is he goin to feel ok? I know killing is nothing with congolese because they have seen more than we have. Just watch out guys otherwise this can cause civil unrest if left unchecked.
A chanda was killed, i thought it was a tonga bull, anyway mhsrip , bembas at it again people are mourning and you go to increase the agony.
No business as usual responses from Congo DR this time around.
Let all truckers continue with the strike, if they are carrying goods destined for Congo let them offload in Chililabombwe or Kasumbalesa on the Zambian side and the Congolese to collect from there with their own trucks while being charged entry and loading fees. No truckers from Congo should be allowed to transit through Zambia. Stop for one minute and try to imagine you were the one burnt alive. I doubt whether diplomacy will work when the meetings will involve a few in the comfort of air conditioned offices as opposed to driver Chanda’s oven! MHSRIP
@ number twelve dont be a bastard,here pipo are discussing a rather sad incidence and all you can contribute are tribal remarks,Bembas what?you are the same bastards that have been trying to divide this country whith such stupid attitude,well its fortunate that will never happen,be smart and move away from this tribal antipathy.chanda M.H.R.I.P.
#12 Litole………Haha haha haha haha haha
# 12 is an *****, just like these congolese beasts
I remember delivering beef to Congo despite beef falling in the category. Of perishables which must be cleared within 6 hours the bastards in Congo made us wait for 4 days at their border side and the fridge truck was running for 4 days I even run out of diesel. Let’s do an eye for an eye with these fools lets close the broader for 2 weeks and they can die of hunger their police is so corrupt . I support hammering these mother fuuuukerz
@12 ulimubwa why ncoleta Zyama tribalism matako ako kunyana mbuli salu lya nabulwe
Let them starve. Do not bit the finger that feeds you.
These people have no mercy at all.Setting someone alive ablaze.Are they human beings or something?They can go to that extent after kidnapping fishermen.Our nationals are suffering in the hands of the Congolese the government should certainly do something.
yes….
This our late driver Chanda knocked down two Congolese who died on the spot but no one is mentioning it.Stop boasting because even in Zambia there are many barbaric things happening.Defilement which is very common here in Zambia is it not barbaric? Gender based violence is it not barbaric? How may people in Zambia were found killed by Zambian criminals? Going out with somebody’s husband or wife which is very common here is it not barbaric? God is the only judge.Even if you close the border the lord is able to take care of his people as he did for israel in the wilderness.Can we say Zambians are defilers because some few individuals are defiling miners on a daily basis? Don’t be so proud because the bible says God resist the proud but give grace to the humble.Stop boasting Zambians.
i pity my congolese brothers bcoz if we went to war we can easily defeat these guys by first just starving them and then attack simple stratege
The congolese do all sorts of criminal activities here in Zambia. You wonder how they would treat a zambian criminal if they can burn an innocent soul. Their country is rotten with lawlessness and impunity from Kasumbalesa to Kinshasa including its people ranging from Katumbi to Kabila. No system at all. . Just look at how their immigration and customs employees look. They look like a bunch of criminals with worn out uniforms and shoes. I doubt it very much if there is a system in place for employing these criminals working at their borders. Am sure one just leaves the street and uses muscle to find his way at the border as an employee. I very much doubt it if they even remit the cash they collect to their govermnment. Their faces just look criminal hell bent on stealing cash.
Zambians are always suffering from that inferiority complex against the Congolese!!!
When your untrained,unprofessional so called driver kills by knocking down two innocents Congolese!!! you expect them to put hands together for him-okay?
You are only talking now! remember during pres. Mobutu; could you open your dirty mouths and talk like the way yr insulting Congolese now? beside drinking hot beers all the week long after being paid as a manoeuvre worker in our Gecamine Holdings Company… stop yr nonsense!!!
They are all accident and incident; so stop it.