Logistics industry stakeholders in the East African Community (EAC) have renewed push to contain further spread of the novel coronavirus by adopting containment measures, while ensuring that the region continues to get vital supplies and inputs through the Central and Northern transport corridors. This follows emerging data that revealed that long distance truck drivers are a weak link in the fight against Covid-19 after several of them tested positive at various border crossing points.  With TMA’s support, The Federation of East African Freight Forwarders Associations (FEAFFA), the umbrella body of the region’s clearing agents has played a central role in the ongoing multi-agency efforts to tackle Covid-19 and enhance trade being employed in the region. Continuously, FEAFFA, Kenya Transporters Associations (KTA), Regional Lorry Drivers and Transporters Association (RLDTA), Transporters Association of Tanzania (TAT) and Tanzania Truck Owners Association (TATOA) held consultative meetings to develop recommendations which were presented to National Covid-19 Taskforces in the East Africa Community Partner States. This will inform the ongoing debate and shape the policy measures being pronounced.  The recommendations by the logistics representatives and players were guided by years’ of experience the agencies have on handling of cargo at various border crossing points. The basis of the recommendations was as follows: The agencies appreciated the plausible measures the EAC states pushed to adopt, for example deployment of relay driving where truck drivers swap with their counterparts in transit countries at the borders. And, drivers mandatory testing at borders. Additionally, the use of delivery of cargo...

Frank Matsaert and Erastus Mwencha On February 27th, 2020 Nigeria confirmed the first case of COVID-19 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Since then, the COVID-19 virus has spread to all corners of the Continent with the number of infections increasing exponentially, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti. Even before the first cases were recorded, COVID-19 was already having an impact on international demand for exports in key sectors such as textiles and floriculture, have severely threatened businesses and fuelled unemployment. Flower exports are down by more than 90% and tourist arrivals have ground to a halt. In the largest economy in East Africa, the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics reported that imports have dropped by more than 20% in the first two months of 2020, with Chinese imports plummeting around 37%.  As the pandemic continues, the projected losses grow. Trade volumes in the East African Community (EAC) are down by up to 25% since the beginning of 2020, with even worse reductions in the informal sector.  African countries, conscious of the fragility of their public health systems and limited intensive care capacity, have had to move quickly to try and protect their people by instituting strict measures to stem the spread of the virus. However, in doing so they are faced with a dilemma. For many in the region their livelihood depends on being able to move about freely. There is no work from home option for the hundreds of thousands of small-scale traders that...