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Malawian transporters, including those hauling fuel are trapped in Tanzania due to election-linked protests that have led to the closure of Kasumulu Border used for clearing imports into the country. The truck drivers The Nation interviewed yesterday from Kasumulu said that while the security of their vehicles is guaranteed by Tanzanian security agents, they have difficulties in accessing basic needs such as food because no one is allowed to cross the border. Thokozani Banda, a driver who arrived at Kasumulu Border on Wednesday morning, said he failed to clear with customs due to lack of network and was caught up in a crossfire of the scuffle between communities and police. He said: “From 11am to around 2pm, there were intense riots, people ransacke2d everything, destroying computers in the Customs office, but they said they would not target our vehicles but their government property. “Soldiers arrived at 2pm and that’s when calm was restored. However, no shop is open and we have to cross Malawi to get food and other amenities, and that is proving difficult. We hear that the situation may normalise in 72 hours.” An o t h e r d r i v er on the Tanzanian side, Isaac Kampondeni, said they seek permission from Tanzania security officers to cross into Malawi for food. “We are given very few minutes to cross and get back. I only fear for those caught along the way coming this side because without shops opened, we are not sure how they are surviving and it’s difficult to get hold of them because of network problems,” he said. Transporters Association of Malawi spokesperson Frank Banda feared for loss of lives, business, especially for those dealing in goods such as fish, bananas, and ginger among others. He said: “We have instructed drivers carrying fuel at Tanga and Dar es Salaam not to travel even after loading and being cleared. This means another blow on supply of fuel because we don’t know when the situation will normalise. “Each day, about 10 trucks carrying bananas enter Malawi and we fear they may go bad. Others carry ginger, and fish. We are also afraid for business because a tanker carrying 33000 litres of fuel is worth K100 million, and then we have lives.” In a separate interview, Karonga Police Station officer-in-charge Kelvin Mulezo confirmed stoppage of the flow of traffic between Songwe in Malawi and Kasumulu in Tanzania, adding that so far, seven families of Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) officers are seeking refuge in Malawi. He said: “As soon as the situation stabilises, the TRA officials will go back to their country. They have been lodged in different lodges at the border. Other citizens are also crossing into Malawi but we have intensified patrols. “We have many border patrol police officers. Where we need to step up the security situation, we are on standby. Our forces at Ipyana at Karonga Boma are also on standby. As soon as there are signals that more security is needed, we deploy immediately.” Mzuzu-based human rights activist Moses Mkandawire said the violence in Tanzania has further affected regional trade and economic development including the safety and security of the region. While there was no immediate reaction from Tanzania authorities, spokesperson for Malawi’s Foreign Affairs, Charles NKhalamba said the government had a team on the ground gathering facts.
