Government has called on stakeholders to exercise patience as construction works continue at the Kasumbalesa Border Post.
Speaking during a media briefing, Chililabombwe District Commissioner Kelly Jibinga said the border post is undergoing expansion works, which are expected to be completed within the next two years.
Mr Jibinga urged truck drivers to support the efforts being undertaken by the Chililabombwe Municipal Council to direct them to designated truck parks.
He said the Government responded to concerns raised by truck drivers about spending long hours on the roads before crossing into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by providing water and portable toilets.
Mr Jibinga further assured truck drivers that there are more than 2,500 parking spaces available within Chililabombwe and Kasumbalesa, and encouraged them to utilize the designated truck parks.
He appealed to truck drivers to communicate the importance of using designated truck parks to their respective transport companies.
“I have urged the Chililabombwe Municipal Council to sensitize truck drivers and ensure that both drivers and their companies are aware of the need to use designated truck parks,” he said.
Mr Jibinga noted that construction works at Kasumbalesa Border Post have resulted in reduced parking space capacity.
Meanwhile, Kasumbalesa Border Station Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) Acting Commissioner Oscila Lundu said ZRA currently can only accommodate 700 trucks at the moment due to the works going on.
Mr Lundu adds that all trucks carrying import or export consignments that are currently on the road have already been cleared by ZRA.
Ms Lundu explained that as long as there is space on the DRC side, trucks arriving at the Kasumbalesa Border Post are able to cross without delays.
He emphasised that no truck should be parked in a truck park while others remain queued on the highway.
“Transporters need to fully embrace pre-clearance systems to help address congestion challenges,” she said.
And one of the truck drivers, Kelvin Bathoromel, said the assistance provided by the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU), including water and portable toilets, was welcome as drivers often spend several days on the roads without access to proper sanitation facilities or water.
Mr Bathoromel appealed to truck park operators to reduce parking fees to enable more drivers to utilize the facilities.
“I want to appeal to truck park owners to reduce the amounts charged for parking so that more drivers can afford to use the truck parks,” he said.
