Southern Africa truck drivers raise the alarm over worsening congestion at Kazungula border

He cautioned that border personnel and truck drivers should operate as partners in facilitating regional trade, rather than encourage practices that undermined the dignity and welfare of commercial drivers.

Meanwhile, SATDAZ has also raised concern over recent operational and clearing measures introduced by the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA), which it believed have contributed to the worsening congestion at the border.

“Although documentation and clearance largely fall under the responsibility of clearing agents, ZRA processing workflows and system verification procedures remain a major source of delays,” Wamunyima said.

He called for the urgent introduction of off-site truck parking facilities where non-sensitive cargo and transit goods could be temporarily held under ZRA supervision.

Wamunyima urged ZRA to inspect and identify suitable truck parks outside the main border area to accommodate trucks and decongest the main transit corridor.

He further called for authorities on both sides of the border to improve customer service and ensure that commercial drivers are treated with professionalism and respect.

Wamunyima also appealed for the immediate provision of temporary sanitation facilities along the Botswana-side queuing line to address the humanitarian challenges facing drivers.

“While SATDAZ understands the statutory responsibilities and operational constraints faced by ZRA, trade facilitation should not come at the expense of human dignity or economic efficiency,” he said.

He has since called on ZRA management and its counterparts in Botswana to engage transport industry stakeholders and urgently implement measures aimed at restoring the smooth movement of cargo through the Kazungula border.

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