Page 20 - Issue 9

Finance & Economics

Coronavirus

delivers blow

to moving

goods across

East Africa

he outbreak of COVIS -19 cross- In Busia Country, local leaders and to contracting the virus,” Mr Ombok
Tborders trade in East Africa residents are in arms, protesting the risk said.
negatively. While measure taken by posed by the truck driver, as the local Meanwhile, Kenya Ports Authority
the EAC partner states have helped in COVID-19 hospital, at Alupe, with 38 and Kenya Trade Network Agency
limiting the spread of the coronavirus bed is full to capacity. (KenTrade)-the only state agencies
within the region, some of the measures As the borders get overwhelmed with mandated to facilitate cross-border
have equally resulted in freight little cargo crossing, the effect across movement of goods-reduced their
challenges, especially at the boarders the logistics chains, particularly– the workforce as a precautionary measure
and other cargo handling points. Mombasa port – where congestion against contracting the virus.
The measures instituted by partners of cargo is being witnessed, with The
states include deployment of relay Kenya Transporters Association (KTA) Traders facing technical hitches when
drivers, mandatory testing of truck appealing to governments to solutions lodging documents to process their
drivers at boarders and delivery of cargo as a matter of urgency. “The Ugandan cargo clearance paperwork will have to
at temporary ICDs at boarders. While government should assure drivers that wait longer after KenTrade suspended
well intentioned, these measures have they will be protected and that they will operations at its face-to-face customer
resulted in a logistical nightmare for not be stigmatized,” said Mercy Ireri, centre.
both the transports and cargo owners. KTA chief operating officer. At the port of Mombasa, stripping
Crossing from one country to another is In Mombasa, transporters threatened of cargo has also decreased after the
almost at standstill as customs officials to suspend evacuation of cargo from management reduced the number
grapple with an overwhelming surge the port until their grievances were of shifts from four to two since the
of cargo trucks lining up at both sides addressed. The traffic gridlock at the introduction of the 7pm-5am curfew in
of the boarders. The Busia and Malaba Malaba border had increased the cost Kenya on March 27.
border points (Kenya-Uganda), are of transport, they said. “We want the
recording cargo trucks snaking more governments of Kenya and Uganda Vessel clearance delays to allow
that 60KMs. The Tanzania border at to immediately resolve the situation docking at the port have also increased
Namanga has seen major snarl ups too, at border where there is a traffic jam significantly after it was made mandatory
with truck drivers raising concern of of more than 50km. The drivers have for all Border closures cause delays in
delays in testing and getting results for genuine concerns and we support their moving goods across the region.
COVID-19. action,” Dennis Ombok, KTA chief In addition, state agencies have reduced
Moreover, the logjam of trucks at borders executive officer told journalists in their workforce and reviewed operations
seems to have come with unintended Mombasa. due to coronavirus fears ships to undergo
consequences, with truck drivers having Mr Ombok said the current situation at inspection, and their crew screened for
been identified as super spreaders of the the borders was unacceptable and long the virus.
virus. A high number of the drivers have traffic jam where fuel tankers queue was The new transport requirements have
tested positive, with Mombasa already dangerous in case of an explosion. led to a low supply of trucks due to
as coronvirus hotspot and the number of stringent medical screening at all border
cases increasing exponentially in Busia “The drivers are facing very tough points, with only drivers, their assistants
County, Kenya, all the cases being truck conditions while they deliver essential and the clearing agent allowed to cross.
drivers. goods and services as they are exposed

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