•SIKWELA

By MILDRED KATONGO  –

THE Government has assured motorists and travellers using the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Pedicle Road at Mokambo border that they will not be harassed by officials from the neighbouring country.
Copperbelt Province Permanent Secretary, Howard Sikwela said passengers and others using the Mokambo border should not fear following confusion that disrupted normal business.
On Saturday, operations at the border came to a standstill after the DRC immigration officers demanded US$50 from passengers using the Pedicle Road. The situation at the border was normalised after Reverend Sikwela and DRC Consular General Chantel Konje held a meeting in Ndola where they resolved that Zambians should use the border without paying any fees.
Rev Sikwela said in an interview yesterday that since Saturday evening, the situation had normalised and travellers and motorists were free to use the road without being inconvenienced.
He said the Government received the news with shock as it was not communicated to by its DRC counterpart.
“Government received the news with shock because it was not communicated as regards the charges. As it is now, people are free to use the road without being charged,” he said.
Rev Sikwela said the Government was closely monitoring the situation and assured that should anything at the border come up, it would be quickly addressed.
He said the Government was committed to ensuring that travellers and motorists using the route were safe and operated without being charged.