Kasumbalesa border in Chililabombwe was yesterday forced to close after irate truck drivers rioted against the shooting of a Zimbabwean driver by gunmen on the Congolese side. The drivers suspended operations yesterday asking government to intervene and make sure that their safety is guaranteed once they enter the Democratic Republic of Congo. Cross-border trading and various business activities came to a standstill yesterday after the drivers ran amok and rioted over the incident where the Zimbabwean truck driver was shot and seriously wounded by unknown gunmen in DR Congo.

Hundreds of trucks were marooned on both sides of the border as no vehicle was given passage. Acting Copperbelt police commissioner Joyce Kasosa confirmed the incident. Briefing the media yesterday, Kasosa said the Zimbabwean truck driver who has since been evacuated was shot in both legs and was badly injured.

“The authorities at Kasumbalesa just saw an ambulance coming from the Zambian side and the patient was exchanged at the border and that’s how it came to light about what happened on Saturday. Upon learning that, drivers protested that they didn’t want to get into Congo DR because their security was not guaranteed,” Kasosa said. She said the District Joint Operations Committee was in contact with the Congolese officials at the district level to try and resolve the matter.

Kasosa said security had been beefed up at the border post to maintain calm.