The Southern African Development Community -SADC- Truck Drivers Association has warned that the continued insufficient and unclean truck parks and dry ports may contribute to a cholera outbreak among drivers as the pandemic ravages Zambia.
Association President Eugene Ndhlovu has revealed to Phoenix News that some truck parks currently have pit latrines that are serving up to 300 truck drivers each day, a situation he believes could lead to a diarrhea outbreak.
In September 2020, government revealed that Zambia was losing up to $700 million per year due to road congestion and disconnects caused by unauthorized truck parking, while the national transport policy of 2019 is yet to be implemented to address these gaps.
Mr Ndhlovu is however excited about prospects of a public-private partnership initiative for dry ports and truck parks after learning that Z-mart is building a dry port with a capacity of 2000 trucks in Ndola for $19 million.
He believes that businesses and government line ministries should explore ways to collaborate and implement the national transport policy by establishing suitable and well-equipped truck parks and dry ports.
PHOENIX NEWS