In recent months, foreign international truck drivers operating in Zambia have raised serious concerns regarding immigration regulations that limit their ability to work effectively. Drivers from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Malawi, Mozambique, and other neighboring countries play a crucial role in transporting goods to and through Zambia. However, a restrictive immigration law has placed significant challenges on these essential workers.
Currently, the law permits foreign truck drivers to transit through Zambia for only 90 days within a 12-month period. Many drivers find that they exhaust this allocation within the first five to six months of the year, creating an unfair situation that jeopardizes their livelihoods. While the Zambian government allows for a transit permit at a cost of 12,000 Kwacha per year, this fee typically falls on the drivers themselves, rather than the truck owners or employers.
Unfortunately, many employers are unwilling to cover this expense, often opting instead to place drivers on forced leave for the remainder of the year. This has led to a troubling trend where employers prefer to hire Zambian drivers who do not face the same transit payment requirements, further marginalizing their foreign counterparts.
Moreover, Zambian international truck drivers have also expressed dissatisfaction with this law. They recognize that these regulations not only affect their foreign colleagues but also their employment within foreign companies. One Zambian driver articulated a compelling point: the government should consider completely removing this law. While there might be efforts to reduce the fees, he believes that eliminating the law altogether would be a more appropriate solution. Zambian drivers often travel to neighboring countries without encountering similar challenges; when their transit days are about to expire, they simply renew them at the border without any fees.
As a response to these challenges, Cross-Border Business Radio has engaged directly with affected drivers from various countries. We have compiled their testimonies into one of our programs, “Africa Immigration Mirror,” which addresses critical issues surrounding the mobility of people and goods across the continent as we all strive to build the African economy.
In our outreach efforts, we are seeking dialogue with the Zambian Department of Immigration and regional organizations, including the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the African Union. Our aim is to facilitate a conversation that leads to more equitable transit regulations that allow foreign truck drivers to continue their vital work without the threat of job loss or financial burden.
We urge the Zambian government and regional institutions to reconsider these immigration policies. By fostering a more inclusive approach to transit regulations, we can enhance the mobility of goods and services across Africa, ultimately supporting economic growth and cooperation among nations.
Conclusion
The plight of foreign international truck drivers in Zambia is a pressing issue that requires immediate attention. As they navigate the complexities of cross-border transport, it is essential that their voices are heard and their concerns addressed. We call upon the Zambian government and relevant regional bodies to work collaboratively towards a solution that benefits all stakeholders involved.
Ovine Nyalazi
Reporting for CBB Radio
Lusaka
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This law has negatively affected many foreign truck drivers, they must abolish it for good 😎
I supported this latter, please can you submit it to honorable ministry please we are suffering
There is problem with immigration officials in Zambia
Some one must come and interplate this transit permit for foreign truck drivers
That law is outdated and need to revisited and must be completely scraped
I see no sense for driver to pay for him to offload essential load in Zambia.
It really doesn’t add up because truckers from other countries its either we come to deliver in zambia or are in transit to other countries charging a driver for a permit it’s just a unrealistic we add value to the zambia economy through these deliveries we bring much needed goods and services it will be much appreciated if this close was revoked completely because drivers end up paying that money from there pockets because they need to earn a living and have family to take care of, on the other hand truck owner will just put another driver on the vehicle leaving the other driver without a job
We are all Southern Africans, why putting such stiff rules among ourselves, please please, we are party of your Economy, or maybe you must also put us on your payrole
In Zambia there is a challenge coz we are in sadc all countries in sadc they don’t count days for truck coz its essential business i think the government must think about it
These were colonial laws why enforcing them this time, if other countries start doing the same to Zambia drivers how will it look like. Was this law really enacted by parliament or someone just woke up one day and say let’s do this, because one wonders how people can come up such punitive laws in this modern world. We are in sadc region and free movement of goods is one of the aims of sadc countries to achieve and seeing a country coming up with these laws is against progress in the region. Do what you would love others to do to you. Zambia government please abolish this law, reducing fees is not an option, drivers are already getting peanuts. We are struggling out here to put food on the table. Hear us out
Im one among the foreign drivers being affected by this scenario.
May honourable ministers work on this matter and probably REMOVE this law.
Thank you for considering my response
This is not fair at all Zambian immigration they’re very rough on this issue I don’t know why Zambia has to come up with such a rule please something must be done on this issue as soon as possible because it has come a very serious problem to foreign drivers in Zambia
Thank you very much for this , if Zambian government is charging for stamping a passport, is better they only implement a charge always when we stamp a passport, not onetime blow of 12 000 kwacha there and there, that,s $478 equivalent, imagine if our Zim government puts that in all our borders , how will our fellow brothers from neighboring countries survive it.
Above all we as drivers we are all working towards a better Africa,Zambia government must scrap this act with immediate effect.
Well said gentleman. That Zambia Immigration law is Extremely unfair. We need to oppose and object in all means acceptable. Their Economy is moving courtesy of the same none Zambian drivers they discriminate.
This is a serious concern to us as drvers we are bringing essentials to zambia for their own benefits but we are being charged to enter zambia please the relevant authorities should look into it
This rule is very painful for us, Zâmbia is doing like is not África. We are all family, why they are doing like that?
Hie
With due respect am here to ask the higher position holders and other stake holders of Zambian immigration to remove the motive of 90 days to truckers in Zambia, because us as truckers we’re the back bone of economy that you want to build in SADC region so if you damaging the back bone 🦴 how will the body stand then
Obviously this is one of the archaic immigration act that need abolishment, nobody needs such law in 21st century. It only promotes corruption with immigration officers working at the borders. It must be scrapped yesterday.
As United Truck Drivers Association, we urge the government to come to the rescue and assist truck drivers from this 90 day and the charge thereof. Trade will definitely be affected once drivers come together and take it upon themselves in future
We ar appealing from the ministry of Zambian immigration they should follow what other sadc countries ar doing we ar part of the growth of the economy of Zambia we ar appealing from the cabinet of Zambia please abolish the permit thing
Good day thank the CB radio for assistance cross-border insure in Zambia for transit days I’m appealing to the Zambia government uplift the number of days