The Zambia government has opened Nakonde One Stop Border Post that was temporary closed on 11th May this year. The border was closed to facilitate the roll out of the targeted interventions by the Ministry of Health to mitigate further spread of Covid 19 into and out of Nakonde border town.
“This notice serves to inform Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) stakeholders and the general public that border operations have resumed in line with SADC Guidelines in accordance with Covid 19 National Health Protocal,” ZRA announced in a public notice.
The Zambian government had earlier announced the closure of its common border with Tanzania after 76 new cases were reported in Nakonde border town in May 9th.
“From Monday 11th May, 2020; “the Nakonde border will be temporarily closed. There shall be no traffic in and out of Nakonde,” Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya had announced at earlier COVID-19 press briefing.
The Nakonde – Tunduma One Stop Border Post (OSBP) was launched in October 2019. It is said to be one of the busiest crossing points in Southern Africa with an average traffic flow of 600 trucks per day.
The OSBP was touted as significant in reducing the time spent at the border from the average of 4 days at the time of launch to 1 day hence helping truck drivers and traders increase on their profit and save time.
“Once fully operation, the border will handle higher traffic levels which will in return improve competitiveness of the corridor resulting in increased trade volumes. Ultimately this infrastructure will promote border coordination making our shared border smart and efficient,” the Zambian President Edgar Lungu said at the time.
A lockdown imposed by President Lungu has since been relaxed following a continent-wide trend.
Meanwhile, Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development Cabinet Secretary James Macharia led a delegation of Kenyan officials that met Tanzanian delegation led by Transport Minister Isack Kamwelwe to ease border crossing tension at Namanga.
These deliberations followed President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Tanzania counterpart President Pombe Magufuli talk over the phone regarding heightened tensions that left traders from both countries incurring huge losses due to delays in getting Covid 19 test results.
CS Macharia said the two countries must unite to protect their trade interests and address the health concerns of citizens.
Kenya and Tanzania are trade partners, recording a turnover of more than $500 million (Sh53 billion) annually.
“We have reached an agreement that Tanzanian and Kenyan drivers will be subjected to the WHO standard Covid-19 testing in their territories and issued with clearance certificates,” said Mr Macharia.
The CS assured truck drivers of speedy testing once the mobile laboratory is installed on Monday. “The new mobile laboratory will be up and running from Monday, with a capacity to test between 500 and 600 samples daily. It will only take five hours for a driver to get the results,” he said.
Mr Kamwelwe emphasised the need for seamless transportation of goods. He noted that the Covid-19 pandemic had adversely affected trade between the two countries and urged citizens to support their governments’ efforts.
“Both countries must honour the MOU to enable free movement of goods across the border. Our drivers will only enter Kenya armed with a Covid-19 clearance certificate,” he said.
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