Drivers reject government request to call off strike: Grounds 1 000 trucks
Truck drivers have told the government off with its call to suspend the ongoing strike, saying all trucks will be parked until all the demands are met.
Spokesperson for the ministry of Transport and Public Works James Chakwera said the government was surprised with the decision to go ahead with the strike when dialogue has been initiated to look into the truck drivers’ grievances.
“We met last week as government with other stakeholders from the MCTU, Road Transporters Association, ministry of Labour, International Haulage Association, the Truck Drivers Association and others.
“We set up a task force to look into all the grievances by the truck drivers and address them. The task force is expected to meet this week for the same,” he said.
He therefore asked the truck drivers to call of the strike so as to allow dialogue take place and that the task force should work effectively and efficiently.
The strike has paralysed the transportation industry, negatively affecting the transportation of fertilizer for farm input subsidy program (Fisp) as rains are due as well as transportation of fuel.
About 1 000 trucks have been grounded because of the strike.
Officals from the Truck Drivers Association – which has a membership of nearly over 700 members across the country – the have since refused to call off the strike.
MDF Leave the truck drivers alone, they are exercising their freedom
This is when you know now that everybody is important…….
Malawi army, what’s wrong with you?
Let the drivers exercise their freedom……
Don’t] bring the fertilizer transportation so the drivers should look bad in the public eye. Sort out their problems. How can someone pay another Malawian MK30000 per month. That is slavery. These drivers blocked and delayed me on the Kasungu Mzuzu road but it was worth it because somebody somewhere is not doing his work
now I see. . most trucks owned by politicians. too bad.
Mukufunaso chiyani zigubu mumachotsa zingati aaaa ma driver mudziyamika.
Much as I sympathize with my brothers/sisters in the truck driving business and their right to demonstrate as they are now doing. A few issues needed to be brought to the fore otherwise all Malawians we are going to feel the pinch of their action shortly. Being a landlocked country largely dependent on road transport-the economy is going to collapse shortly. When it does we all collapse with it. You have virtually blocked all the trucks local and foreign meaning that there is no inflow of fuel which is a key driver to our economic activity. No fertilizer and other… Read more »
Let us suffer Let the economy suffer Let the fertilizer and many other law materials get blocked. That is the price you pay for enslaving others for selfish gains. Driver squiz the vampires until they give you the right wage.
the government should start using the rail system. no more trucks.
As an owner, just to reharsh what I said earlier for others who may be interested to know, some of the challenges faced by owners. Before joining the industry, I had the same perception as many others who think that truck owners have a comfortable life financially. I jumped on board as a result of emotions, without doing a proper research. If I had done a proper research before starting, I would not have invested in trucks. Trucking is one of the most challenging businesses. In over 12 years, I have been running the business, I have seen hundreds of… Read more »
Well said. Here is someone talking from a position of knowledge. Emotions must not take centre stage. Yes workers need a good remuneration but must be performance related. Most of the houses in Lunzu are owned by these 50000 per month truck drivers. Their life style does not match their 50000/ month salary. So how do they manage. I will tell you. By stealing from the very same owner they are demanding 300000k. They carry goods and see all the documentation and suddenly become fundis in transport management. What trash. Its their legal right to strike so is it my… Read more »
Excellent piece of advice! Well done!!!
Well elaborated. Taphunzilako
thank you sir.
well noted and agreed
You see the answer to most problems you have mentioned here is with you the small businesses. You see those those Nsundwe guys fighting for their rights you call them all sorts of names. Have you ever thought of blocking our roads to foreign trucks carrying goods from Malawi. No you are too smart for that but expect the drivers carry the burden. Well the drivers will not carry your burden anymore. Pay them proper wages or quit
These guys they know that most of these vehicles belong to these corrupt politicians of our nation. The people running the government do this transportation business with an aim of milking our taxes and the drivers are aware of this.It would be good and easy to use rail way transport so that we the citizens of this country can afford cheaper goods across. So there is no need for us to sympathize with these thieves and crooks from the top to toe of the government hiracky.Let these drivers punish them in that way until they have been paid back their… Read more »
tHIS IS PLAN B . BUT THESE DRIVERS ARE RISKING. THEIR QUALIFICATIONS ARE VERY POOR AND THEY GO ON STRIKE. WE HAVE MORE MALAWIANS TRAINED AS DRIVERS WHAT IF THEY GET RECRUITED. . PLEASE DONT WASTE OUR TIME. . WHO HAS TOLD YOU DRIVERS TO DO THID. THESE PEOPLE DONT LOVE YOUR COUNTRY. CONTINUE WITH YOUR ACTS BUT WE ARE DESTROYING OUR OWN COUNTRY
SO THIS IS THE WAY OF CLOSING BOARDERS. WHO EMPLOYED THESE DRIVERS. IS IT THE GOVERNMENT. I THINK SOMEONE IS BEHIND THIS. LETS WAIT AND SEE