Kigali, RWANDA
Rwanda and Kenyan transport officials are expected to hold fresh talks separately with their Tanzanian counterparts over continuing truckers stalemate at their respective borders.
Tanzania cross-border cargo truck owners want unconditional
access into Rwanda, protesting the Covid-19 control measures requiring them to
terminate their trips at the Rwanda border, with exception of perishables and
petroleum products as per the deal reached by the governments on May 15.
According to media reports, the Tanzania Truck Owners
Association has requested the government to have talks with neighbouring
countries and review its members claim that their Covid-19 certificates are
being rejected at the borders while others have to wait for long to offload
cargo at the Namanga (with Kenya) and Rusumo (Rwanda) borders.
Rwanda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International
Co-operation Vincent Biruta confirmed to reporters that parties were
expected to meet, on a date yet to be set.
He, however, did not reveal the specific demands presented
by Tanzania, and whether the talks signal a setback to the previously reached
deal.
“It will be a follow up on the implementation of the
resolutions of the previous bilateral meeting with Tanzania,” he said through
the Office of the Government Spokesperson.
On the Tanzania-Kenya borders, the situation is the same,
as drivers from the two countries are stranded and cannot enter or exit both
sides at the Namanga and Holili/Taveta One Stop Border Posts.
Tanzania’s Transport Minister Isaack Kamwelwe told
reporters, the two countries are making arrangements to have talks to settle
the matter.
Kenya and Tanzania had earlier agreed that truck drivers
were to be tested in their countries of origin and given clearance certificates
to allow them easier crossing. However, last week Kenyan officials
rejected Tanzania’s certificates, causing the pile up of trucks as Tanzania
also stopped Kenyan drivers.
On May 15, Rwandan and Tanzanian officials agreed on cross
border modalities for truckers and on May 22, Tanzania held a one-day meeting
with Kenyan officials in Arusha and agreed on the same.
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