07/06/2020
Africa?s essential truckers say they face virus stigma
NAMANGA, Kenya (AP) ? They haul food, fuel and other essential supplies along sometimes dangerous roads during tough economic times. But Africa#8217;s long-distance truckers say they are increasingly being accused of carrying something else: the coronavirus. While hundreds of truckers have tested positive for the virus in recent weeks, the drivers say they are being stigmatized and treated like criminals, being detained by governments and slowing cargo traffic to a crawl. That has created a challenge for governments in much of sub-Saharan Africa, where many borders remain closed by the pandemic, on how to strike a balance between contagion and commerce. Countries are struggling to reach...
