MCCL Branch Manager, Dennis Nkhoma, says this follows client complaints that some items were going missing in newly imported vehicles deposited with the company.

“This decision has been made to improve efficiency on service delivery to our importers,” said Nkhoma.

Nkhoma said the drivers were hired to transfer the vehicles from the port to their yard-offices where customs clearance takes place ready for dispatch to Malawi.

The decision was arrived at following an assessment carried out in conjunction with ports authority to find out on how operations could be improved assuring safety.

“Following the assessment we have fired 30 drivers from our regular list because we want to improve efficiency on service delivery to our importers.

“The removal of the thirty drivers will not affect operations at the Malawi cargo centre limited,” said Nkhoma.

Malawi Cargo Center Limited has since requested vehicle importers to instruct the shippers of vehicles to indicate on the bill of landing if there is an extra item, facility or tool in the vehicle that may be unique from any other normal second-hand vehicle.

Nkhoma observed that in the absence of such information, the hand-over authority finds it difficult to follow-up on whether items are missing or not during hand-overs.

“On our part, we shall continue working to ensuring that clients collect their vehicles in the same state they arrived from the vessel or port terminal,” he said.