DRIVERS, HOOKERS

SIMON MUNTEMBA writes HOOKER and lorry drivers are a high-risk groups that have contributed to the escalating cases of Covid-19 in Zambia, some concerned Zambians have charged. By yesterday, the cumulative number of COVID-19 confirmed cases stood at 654 after recording 208 new COVID-19 cases out of 903 tests done in the last 24hrs. Out […]

DRIVERS, HOOKERS
SIMON MUNTEMBA writes HOOKER and lorry drivers are a high-risk groups that have contributed to the escalating cases of Covid-19 in Zambia, some concerned Zambians have charged. By yesterday, the cumulative number of COVID-19 confirmed cases stood at 654 after recording 208 new COVID-19 cases out of 903 tests done in the last 24hrs. Out of the total number, 12 positive cases were truck drivers that were coming through Chirundu border, while 196 positive cases were truck drivers, port officials, health workers and community workers at Nakonde boarder. This is within one week when cases involving 26 truck drivers, among them 18 Tanzanians, 13 being workers at lodges and commercial sex workers, and 31 immigration staff among others tested positive at Nakonde border. This has created apprehension among Zambians, accusing truck drivers and sex workers of spreading the pandemic. Richard Zulu, 49, of Lusaka’s Ngo’mbe compound said COVID-19 was being spread by lorry drivers  because some of them were believed to have multiple homes in different countries and towns. “Ma truck drivers na ma hule ndiye batiletelela muno mu Zambia. It’s not a secret, truck drivers are known to have multiple sex partners. So aba bantu babili bafunika kubayanganapo bwino,” Mr Zulu said. He said truck drivers were fond of stopping in several towns along the way where they have  homes with wives. Another Lusaka resident, Beatrice Mumba expressed concern that lorry drivers, listed as essential workers, were spreading coronavirus. “Truck drivers are vehicles of this, all those staff at the port of entry and medical personnel got it from them. Remember, Health minister Dr Chitalu Chilufya few days ago said 76 of 85 reported new cases in the northern town were either sex workers or lorry drivers, so truck drivers are vehicles of this,” Ms Mumba said. She said the fact that sex workers in Zambia were helping to trace people who had contracted coronavirus after a surge in new infections at the border town of Nakonde is testimony that the disease was spread by truck drivers and sex workers. Lloyd Mainza, a Lusaka’s Kabangwe’s area also said cross-border truck drivers who stop at truck inns and other business centres to rest were making Zambia vulnerable to COVID-19. Mr Minza further accused the drivers of picking up sex workers at such spots, a practice he said would likely worsen the spread of COVID-19. He called on   authorities to put on a mechanism where drivers entering Zambia could be monitored and ensure they were not in physical contact with Zambians. Angela Chikambwe, 35, of Lusaka’s Garden area said, truck drivers were increasing risks of spreading the virus. “Chamene chifunika apa manje boma izibagwila bamene abo mahule na ma drivers bakabapeza,” Ms Chikambwe said. The Sun