DAR ES SALAAM, May 20 (Xinhua) -- The East African regional business and private sector watchdog on Wednesday praised truck drivers for their continued delivery of essential commodities across the east African borders amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The East African Business Council (EABC) based in Tanzania's tourist city of Arusha said in a statement that the truck drivers were among those risking their personal health to keep products moving to stores, hospitals, homes and elsewhere during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite the impact of COVID-19, truck drivers continue to deliver essential commodities including food, personal protective equipment(PPE), medicines, raw materials within and across the East African Community (EAC) borders, said the statement.
"The EABC appreciates and recognizes the selfless dedication of truck drivers who are delivering goods to health facilities, factories and consumers," said the statement signed by Peter Mathuki, EABC Executive Director.
"This will boost the availability of medical, PPEs and food crucial to protecting the health of our citizens and improving food security in the region," said the statement.
The statement said stigmatization against truck drivers should never be an option, as this may lead to a disruption in the supply chain in the EAC member countries of Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan, thus affecting further trade and investment.
"Let us support our truck driver in the region, our unsung heroes on the wheel delivering essential cargo into and out of our countries," said the statement. Enditem
