Government Denies Charging Truck Drivers For Covid-19 Certificates

The government has denied accusations that officials are charging truck drivers as much as K500 to receive certificates clearing them of Covid-19.

Transport and communications minister Mutotwe Kafwaya dismissed the allegations at a fact-finding mission to Kasumbalesa Border Post in Chililabimbwe District, Copperbelt. He told truck drivers that no one should be charged for a Covid-19 certificate. 

The minister said he had spoken to permanent secretary to the ministry of health Dr Kennedy Malama, as well as four random truckers in the yard.

However, one of the truckers admitted he had been charged K300 for a certificate, saying that he had not even been swabbed before being given a clean bill of health. 

Mr Kafwaya said he instructed officers to apprehend the health worker who administered the certificate but he had already fled.

The investigation came after SADC Truck Driver’s Association president Stanley Muluka claimed that some drivers were complaining of having to pay for their Covid-19 certificates.