The Government of Zambia has formally engaged their Congolese counterparts over the recent spate of attacks on international drivers in that country.

A delegation of defence personnel, led by the minister, is in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for the Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security.

At the centre of the discussion is the security of truck drivers following an attack that resulted in the death of a Zambian driver last month.

NBC News spoke to Zambia's Minister of Defence, Ambrose Lifuma, who said, "The government recognises that security concerns raised by Zambian drivers are rooted in border security and enforcement gaps on major trucking corridors in and within the DRC. As a result, the government has engaged DRC to enhance the protection of Zambian nationals, including high-level dialogue with DRC to strengthen border security and intelligence-sharing arrangements in identified high-risk tracking areas."

The minister expressed condolences to the family of the slain Zambian truck driver Joseph Chivanga, who died in an attack in that country.