CROSS-BORDER CARGO-TRUCK DRIVERS A COVID-19 MENACE

By Osoro Nyawangah, MWANZA Tanzania

Cross-border cargo-truck drivers, especially those from Tanzania and Kenya, main import channels for Uganda and Rwanda, have posed a threat to the anti-epidemic fight in neighboring countries.

Rwanda on Friday reported a record 22 new COVID-19 cases, the largest single daily increase since the country registered its first case on March 14 this year, bringing the total cases to 176.

The Rwandan Ministry of Health in its daily coronavirus update said the new cases "reflect a rise in cases of cross-border cargo-truck drivers and their assistants."

While the landlocked country has imposed a nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus, goods and cargos are allowed to cross the border.

Of the total Rwanda cases, 87 patients have recovered and 89 others still undergoing treatment, according to the latest data.

According to the Uganda Minister of Internal Affairs, Jeje Odongo, while the country is sacrificing to keep the spread of COVID-19 minimal, the efforts are being undermined by imported cases.

Odongo told reporters that on Tuesday this week the country had 56 cases but next day the number jumped to 61 on account of five cross-border cargo-truck drivers from Kenya and Tanzania.

The Minister said that the national task-force is studying possible remedial actions.

Cargo-trucks at Rusumo border post

One of the measures is relay driving, whereby a driver from a neighbouring country hands over the vehicle to a Ugandan driver at the border crossing after the vehicle has been sanitized.

The Ugandan driver will take the cargo to the final destination. In case the cargo is transiting through, the Ugandan driver similarly hands over the truck to another driver at the border crossing after the vehicle is sanitized.

The other measure that is being discussed, according to the minister, is deploying rapid test kits at the border so that the results are obtained before the driver proceeds within the journey.

Odongo however noted that this may be prohibitive since each test costs $65 and there are three people in the truck. 

An average of 1,000 trucks cross into the country daily.

The other possible measure is to have the drivers’ park in designated areas to limit their interaction with the public.

Uganda allowed the continued operation of cross-border cargo trucks, trains and air cargo despite closing all its border entry points. 

The move according to government is aimed at not stalling the running of the economy.

Early this week the President of Tanzania, John Magufuli, clearly ruled out the possibility of locking down the main port to East Africa and commercial city of Dar es Salaam because of the spread of the novel coronavirus.

“There are those who have suggested that we lockdown Dar es Salaam. This is not possible.” said the President adding that Dar es Salaam is the only centre where the Tanzania government collect almost 80 per cent of the country’s revenue.

While Kenya maintain curfew from 7.00pm to 5.00am as means of controlling spead of COVID-19, Tanzania has not taken stern measures like other East African countries but maintain social distancing, hand-washing and use of natural remedies. - Africa