by ESTER MBATHERA, OKERI NGUTJINAZO and CHARMAINE NGATJIHEUE
DOZENS of Namibian truck drivers have been crossing borders into dangerous territory to pick up and deliver essential goods – risking their health in the process.
One of them tested positive for
Covid-19 at Walvis Bay over the weekend, as announced by minister of
health and social services Kalumbi Shangula on Sunday, while another
contracted the virus in Zambia where he is currently quarantined.
The
47-year-old truck driver, who is Namibia’s 21st Covid-19 case, returned
from South Africa on 8 May and was quarantined at the truck depot of
his employer, FP du Toit Transport, at the coastal town.
Before
receiving his test results, the man allegedly entered the community with
a colleague, but was later apprehended by the police.
“He is
a-symptomatic and remains at the Walvis Bay isolation unit. The two
truck drivers have since been fired as a result of contravening
quarantine rules,” Shangula said.
Contact tracing is underway, he said.
The latest case puts the plight of truck drivers in the spotlight.
Apart
from the risk of contracting Covid-19, truckers also face the risk of
road accidents on their long journeys across borders.
Namibian truck driver Wilbard Wilbard (26) lost his life earlier this month in Zambia after crashing into another truck.
Truck
driver Jesaja Gereseb, whose employer is known to The Namibian but
cannot be named, said they do not receive a risk allowance and are not
allowed to go home to their families once they return to Namibia.
“We
have to wait for our results. It’s dangerous, because we come from
different countries and you don’t know who is sick. We are using the
same toilets and office, so every trip is stressful,” he said.
Another
crossborder truck driver employed by FP du Toit Transport, who spoke to
The Namibian anonymously, said he has just returned from a month-long
trip to Zambia.
Upon arrival, he was informed his salary for May has been cut by 50%.
In
addition, he was scheduled to return to Zambia three days later, but
was told to remain at the depot and could not see his family.
“I
spent the whole month sleeping in a truck. Upon arrival I was told to
remain on site and to not go home. We are not allowed to leave the depot
and have to rely on our colleagues and people from outside to bring us
food. To relieve ourselves, we use bottles and plastic bags as the
toilets are locked after hours,” he said.
A truck driver feels their efforts are not recognised by the government.
The driver, who delivers food and clothing, wants to know why test results cannot be instant.
“Every
time you cross the border, you have to stay at the depot when you
return, until you get another load. The company is not providing us with
food, only mobile showers and toilets. Our lives are at risk every
day,” he says.
The Namibian has established a truck driver’s basic salary is N$6 000 with commission per kilometre and a trip allowance.
Some companies offer employees medical aid and pension.
Some employees’ salaries have been cut by 50% to prevent job losses.
Health and Safety
Another truck driver says they have received personal protective equipment (PPE) from their company, but had to pay for it.
He says truck drivers are tired of airing their grievances, adding their last resort is to protest.
“The
company and the government discuss our issues behind closed doors
without employees’ input. They are treating us like slaves. Thirty years
have passed and still there has been no change in transportation,” he
says.
According to this driver, the latest trucks are huge and roads are narrow since the government does not upgrade them.
To reduce the risk of importing Covid-19, some drivers have proposed working on a three-week shift basis.
“The
idea is that … after 14 days of quarantine, I should be allowed to
spend at least five days with my family and then get back to work,” the
driver said.
One trucker, who also spoke to The Namibian on
Sunday and wants to be identified as Tony, said being quarantined is
reducing their income, because they are either paid per trip or per
kilometre.
He said it would be good if the government could provide them with a risk allowance.
Another issue is exhaustion, Tony says.
“When
we arrived in Namibia from Zambia, the authorities told us to drive
straight to Walvis Bay so we can be quarantined there. We were informed
not to stop anywhere or take any breaks and we complied. However, this
move is not safe for us, because we occasionally need to rest,” he said.
Stephan Terblanche, the chief executive officer of FP du Toit,
said once they return to Namibia, drivers do not get quarantined for 14
days but stay at the depot for two to three days pending their next
trip.
“During this period, we do not allow them to go home as per
the government and WHO regulations. This rule applies to all drivers
all over the world. Our drivers have very comfortable beds in their
trucks and they can take their chair out and sit outside. We just don’t
allow them to leave the premises and mingle with the larger public,” he
added.
John Kwedhi, secretary general of the Namibia Transport
and Allied Workers Union (NATAU), yesterday said the union would release
a statement today to address the plight of truck drivers and the latest
confirmed case at Walvis Bay.
Kwedhi said the union will
respond to the drivers who were fired for contravening quarantine
regulations after they were apprehended, saying the information was
incorrect.
He said they are awaiting information from the Erongo police before they release the statement.
Kwedhi
claims the two truckers went jogging and did not leave the quarantine
facility before they were apprehended by the police.
Walvis Bay
Urban constituency councillor Knowledge Ipinge said the information that
the truckers “escaped” from the depot is sketchy, but his office is
monitoring developments.
He said the two truckers were unfairly
dismissed, as the company allowed them to roam freely without providing
food and other basic items while they were quarantined at the depot.
“In the meantime, my office has engaged the company to obtain its Covid-19 response plan,” he said.
