HARARE – The Federation of East and Southern African Road Transport Associations (Fesarta) has urged truckers and logistics operators to stay on high alert ahead of Zimbabwe’s planned March 31 protests, warning of potential disruptions to regional trade and transport networks.
Fesarta’s Mike Fitzmaurice advised transporters to avoid unnecessary movement on Monday, saying, “We’re in close contact with security clusters in Zimbabwe, and the situation is tense. There’s already heavy police visibility in urban areas. Our advice to truckers is to stay put in secure truck stops on March 31 until we know how things unfold.”
While recent arson attacks—reportedly linked to the protests—have not yet disrupted major trucking routes, Fitzmaurice cautioned that the risk remains. “If things escalate, we’ll update our members immediately.”
Zimbabwe’s highways are vital trade corridors linking South Africa, Zambia, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Any prolonged unrest could delay shipments of fuel, minerals, and essential goods, driving up costs across the region.
The Zimbabwean government has vowed to suppress the demonstrations, deploying police nationwide. Home Affairs Minister Kazembe Kazembe labeled the planned protests “subversive” and warned that authorities would use strict legal measures to prevent unrest. Security forces have invoked the Criminal Law Act and Cyber Security Act to target social media activists accused of inciting demonstrations.
“We will not allow illegal gatherings to derail our economic progress,” Kazembe said, assuring businesses and international partners that security forces would prevent disruptions.
Some trucking companies have already suspended trips to and through Zimbabwe, adopting a wait-and-see approach.
SAtrucker
