GOVERNMENT says it is in the process of securing wagons in order to operationalise the Chipata-Mchinji Railway line project in Eastern Province.
Transport, Works, Supply and Communications Deputy Minister Panji Kaunda said in Chipata on Saturday that the Patriotic Front (PF) Government was now in the process of securing wagons in order to operationalise the railway line project in Eastern Province.
Colonel Kaunda said the railway line had taken time to become operational because it was being run by Railway Systems of Zambia (RSZ) whose concession was cancelled by the Government.
In September last year, Government through Minister of Finance Alexander Chikwanda announced the cancellation of concession of RSZ operations in the country.
Col Kaunda said the lack of political will by the MMD Government also contributed to the delay in making the project a success after its official launch in 2010.
“There are two factors why the project had not become operation, the first thing is because RSZ whose concession was canceled were not serious with the project and the other was because of the laziness of the previous government(MMD) which had politicize the project but the PF Government will operationalise the project this year,” Col Kaunda said.
He said the PF Government through Zambia Railways is set to acquire wagons to enable the project to start functioning.
He said companies under Public Private Partnership (PPP) would soon start transporting goods to NACALA port in Mozambique using the railway line.
Col Kaunda said the railway line would not become a white elephant again, because the Government was determined to link the railway line project to Tanzania –Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) via Petauke District.
And Chipata Central Member of Parliament (MP) Reuben Mtolo Phiri said the operationalisation of the Chipata-Mchinji Railway line project by the Government would act as a catalyst towards the economic emancipation of Eastern Province.
Mr Phiri said transport plays a major role in business adding that the railway line was an important component in the enhancement of economic development.
He said the railway line would significantly reduce the cost of doing business not only in Eastern Province but Zambia.
Mr Phiri also said he was expecting that part of the Euro Bond money would be pumped into the project to revamp the Chipata-Mchinji railway line.
Just cheap talk U said this before can u give the procurement progress report, SANYA
Did you say revamp it with the Euro Bond? Its only two years old, has never operated and you already want to revamp it…god help us!
THIS RAIL LINE WILL BEGIN TO MAKE ECONOMIC SENSE WHEN IT GETS EXTENDED AS FAR AS MPULUNGU VIA MUCHINGA PROVINCE, NAKONDE AND MBALA.
Cant wait to see the rail-line in operational. it would really reduce the cost of doing business not only in chipata but Zambia as a whole as there is a lot of agro products in eastern province. Ninshi insala yapwa ku copperbelt. Tobacco will no longer be shipped to Malawi foer prosessing. More money in Zambia
Good move Ba Panji
Panji should work quietly rather than think aloud. His mother hails from Mambwe District and he owns a family farm estate in Chadidza. The railway project was frozen by PF to frustrate the people of Eastern Province. This is the approach FTJ Chiluba adopted against the peoples of Eastern Province by neglecting the upgrading of the Great East Road just because UNIP was strong in Eastern Province. History is being repeated through the initial phase of sacking of Lameck Mangani and Lucas Phiri from PF system.
The ope-rationalizing of the Mchinji-Chipata railway line and its extension to other parts of the country will be a great relief to the roads and development will be faster as a railway network is not only a bulk carrier but also cheap means of transporting goods and services
Cheap talk, how many wagons? how much? When are you buying them? And where is the money coming from?
What economic benefits can we possibly get from that dead end Malawi.
What benefit? Why not the Angolan outlet to oil, to the western port to the outside. This Chipata thing ends in a dead Malawi and hopelessness. Abandon this project and use other projects that are viable.