By Duncan Mlanjira
A social media traffic update is alerting motorists that the M1 Road to Lilongwe might be closed on Wednesday to all traffic at GDC offices at Nkhumbe where truck drivers have parked their trucks on both sides of the road as a strike demanding pay rise.
At this spot the drivers are forcing every passing truck to join in the striker and rumors and the reports on social media claim that even buses and minibuses will not be allowed to pass through going and coming from Lunzu/Mwanza/Lilongwe.
Already motorists are finding it difficult to maneuver the middle space left of the road that has now stretched to over a kilometre.
Surely, by tomorrow, this spot will be very congested as there are other rumours that after buses and minibuses have been forced to park, their vehicles, other other cars will follow suit.
Reports also say it’s the same scenario at entry point at 6 Miles in Lilongwe where over 20 trucks of different sizes are parked just before the round about.
The situation is the same at the Lilongwe entry and exit point at Kanengo as well as along the Lilongwe-Mchinji road.
Try hard as they might, the Police seem to be helpless since thy are met with hostility that can escalate into violence if the truck drivers may feel intimidated.
The truck drivers are demanding salary increment from K300,000 to K500,000, saying they’ll not stop striking until their demands are met.