Home

Cross-border truckers lament lack of uniformity in COVID-19 test requirements

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The lack of uniformity in the application of Polymerase Chain Reaction Tests (PCR-Tests) for COVID-19 by member states of the Trans Kalahari Corridor (TKC) secretariat remains a major hurdle for truck drivers transporting goods between South Africa, Botswana and Namibia.

Speaking during the TKC’s “Thank-A-Trucker” campaign, truckers operating on the two thousand kilometre corridor, lamented the challenges they experience due to differences in each country’s COVID-19 testing protocols.

“I have been a truck driver for 7 years, the route I’m traveling now I’m doing cross border, South Africa to Namibia through Botswana,” says Mendu Ngake, one of the truck drivers.

While the trans-border transportation of goods continues in earnest, uniformity in the application of COVID-19 testing protocols remains a major drawback.

“We do appreciate that member states have the sovereign right to protect their citizens but what we call upon our principals is that let us have these harmonized. If I give you an example for the PCR test you find that for them to cross into Botswana with the 72 hours valid PCR result. If you want to cross into Namibia, it’s 7 days validity. For South Africa, it’s 30 days,” says Leslie Mpofu, the Trans Kalahari Corridor Secretariat.

VIDEO: Thank the Truck Driver Campaign – Trucker Mendu Ngake takes us through his journey across nations:

 

Author

MOST READ