Why Zambia is holding 20 trucks from Tanzania

Dar es Salaam. Zambian authorities are holding more that 20 Tanzanian lorries over smuggling allegations.
A representative of the Tanzania Truck-Owners Association (Tatoa) in Zambia, Mr Yusuf Akberali, said during the association’s annual general meeting over the weekend that the lorries were being held owing to a number of shortfalls related to smuggling.
“Tatoa tried to resolve the matter, but we discovered that the lorries had no valid certificates of transporting cargoes to Zambia,” he said.
He, however, did not disclose the owners of the lorries, or the cargo contained in them.
“This is not good at all. It is not the first time for Tanzanian lorries to be seized in Zambia for smuggling-related allegations,” he said.
He warned the owners of the lorries to follow the legal procedures of operating their businesses because their actions may lead to Zambian traders boycotting  Dar es Salaam port.
Works, Transport and Communications minister Isaac Kamwelwe said the government has nothing to do with those who violate legal procedures.
“The Zambian government is right because there are legal requirements, which traders must follow before crossing the borders,” he said.
He said the government will not tolerate such behaviour any longer.  
The executive secretary of the Tanzania Shipping Agents Corporation (Tasac), Abel Uronu, told the lorry owners to adopt a multimodal transport system which enables them to make direct contracts with owners of the ships.
“This model requires the ship owners to ensure that the cargo reaches its destination; but many ship operators have no overland transport,” he said.
He counselled the lorry owners to take the opportunity seriously and make business.