Congo-Kinshasa: Three Border Posts Closed

16 March 2007
The Times of Zambia (Ndola)

Ndola — AUTHORITIES in the Democratic Republic Congo (DRC) have closed three major border posts with Zambia, leaving 400 trucks laden with copper concentrates marooned in that country.

Copperbelt Permanent Secretary, Jennifer Musonda, confirmed the development in an interview in Ndola yesterday.

Ms Musonda said her office only received information about the closure on Wednesday. She said the borders had been closed since Saturday last week.

"We can confirm that the borders have been closed but we have not been written to. We only received the information yesterday and we are surprised," she said.

The Government was yet to get a response from the DRC government as to why the borders were closed. Ms Musonda said the borders on the Zambian side were still open.

The majority of the trucks marooned were carrying copper concentrates.

The closed points are at Kasumbalesa, Lonshi and Sakania.

Sources yesterday disclosed that the closure of the borders had greatly affected First Quantum Mining (FQM) operations at Lonshi.

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