Botswana border controls tighten Alan Peat 17 September 2014 Reports suggest tReports suggest that fears of Ebola transmission have seen Botswana almost sealing certain of its border posts, forcing cross-border truckers to divert through Zimbabwe. Some long-distance truck drivers have told the African press that a high volume of traffic has detoured through Zim, estimated at more than 300 trucks a day. Botswana is apparently demanding that any driver crossing to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) should stay away from Botswana for almost two months. This has forced hundreds of drivers to transit via Beitbridge instead of utilising Botswana border posts. Meanwhile, Voice of America (VOA) reported that the DRC health minister said recently that two Ebola deaths had been confirmed in his country – which has had numerous encounters with Ebola since it was first discovered in 1976. These alleged cases have not been confirmed by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Brian Kalshoven of Beitbridge Border Clearing Agency confirmed to FTW Online that volumes of trucks had been diverting via that border post, particularly noticeable on Wednesday last week. “We have seen an increase of trucks coming in from Zimbabwe, leading to queues on the road leading to the border post,” he said. “And the reason confirmed what you have been told. I heard it was because Botswana had closed its borders to Ebola.” ftwonline.co.za/News.aspx?NewsNo=25278
Posted on: Wed, 17 Sep 2014 07:35:37 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015