Three Zambian truck drivers petrol bombed in SA

Three Zambian truck drivers petrol bombed in SA

Three Zambian truck drivers have been petrol-bombed and their trucks burnt to ashes by violent protesters in Groblersbrug, Limpopo province, South Africa in two separate incidences that happened on Tuesday night.

And the Zambia High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa has appealed to the South African government through the Department of International Relations and Cooperation to urgently help safeguard Zambian truckers involved in the transportation of goods between the two countries.

One of the drivers whose identity is yet to be confirmed with his employers, a named Zambian registered trucking company sustained life threatening injuries and is admitted to hospital while the other one identified as Vincent Yavwa,54,sustained minor burns and has since been discharged from hospital.

Mr Yavwa,holder of passport number ZN 246720, a driver at Southgate Investments Limited was attacked along the R 572 road at around 18 hours by violent protesters enroute to Groblersbrug.

According to the information made available to the Zambian Mission in Pretoria, the truck registration number BAH 1795 ZM with interlink trailers belonging to Southgate was set ablaze by petrol bombs and burnt to ashes together with the cargo it was carrying.

And in a Note Verbal written to the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation, Zambia’s high commissioner to South Africa Emmanuel Mwamba has called on the government in that country to put in place urgent measures to guarantee the safety of Zambian truckers.

Mr Mwamba says the unfortunate development had the potential to disrupt international trade and halt the movement of goods and services between the two countries as there were many South African trucks transporting goods to Zambia and vice versa.

He has described the attacks as unfortunate, stating that the mission will continue to engage South African authorities to ensure that human life and property were protected.

Mr Mwamba has since appealed for calm among truck drivers and the Truckers Association of Zambia as the mission has engaged the South African government to help put measures in place to safeguard the truckers and their goods.

Last week about 30 foreign trucks including three Zambian trucks were burnt to ashes on the N3 Toll Route near Mooi River in KwaZulu Natal bringing the total number of Zambian trucks burnt in various parts of that country to six.

This is contained in a statement issued by Naomi Nyawali, first secretary at Zambia’s mission in South Africa.