Transport, Works and Supply Minister Christopher Yaluma
The Government has said that it will ban ferrying of abnormal loads on the roads once the revival of Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) is completed.
Transport, Works and Supply Minister Christopher Yaluma said in an interview yesterday that the government will issue a Statutory Instrument (SI) on the measure.
He said the two Governments had agreed to rehabilitate the line and that the Chinese auditors have since audited the line to establish the extent of damage.
Mr Yaluma said the report would be ready in June this year, adding that once the report was ready, the two Governments would start looking for finances.
He said the two Governments were committed to rehabilitation works of TAZARA and that currently some funds were being injected to sustain salaries, but the Governments wanted to ensure that the firm was run profitably and improve its operations.
“We are committed to rehabilitation works of TAZARA. So once the rehabilitation of the railway line is completed, I will issue a Statutory Instrument to burn abnormal load on the road network,” Mr Yaluma said.
He said there was an increased volume of trucks from Tanzania into Zambia and vice versa, thereby damaging the roads.
On the Zambia Railways (ZR), Mr Yaluma said the Government would inject another US$50 million towards the rehabilitation of the railway.
The Government committed US$120 million from the US$750 million Eurobond to recapitalise the ZR.
Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda said recently that the railway company was a critical institution to the country’s development hence the desire for Government to see the institution operate as it should.
Mr Yaluma said Government’s move to inject US$120 was aimed at rehabilitating the railway lines, to avoid potential locomotive crashes.
“Still another US$50 million will be injected in the rehabilitation of the railway, as the board of directors is already in place to manage the project with the help of the Managing Director Clive Chirwa,” he said.
Mr Yaluma said Government was in the process of rehabilitating the Railway line from Chingola to Livingstone.
He said this would enable ZR resume important cargo transportation. He said the Government was committed to ensuring that the
repossessed ZR becomes viable and serves Zambians efficiently.
just waiting
And when is that? Since you have not yet found the funds for rehabilitation…
Ba LT, who really proof read your writing? It’s not “burn” but “ban”. Otherwise the Government will be guilt of arson. And Ba Minister what is “abnormal load”? Why not just put a limit on have load will be permissible to use road transport?
Just how much abnormal are we talking about here? do you even monitor what should be carried out via road or not? no wonder there has been so many accidents, the roads have been destroyed!
How much have these same people been paying if at all?, i have so many questions but i guess they would fail on deaf ears, therefore, i rest my case!
THE GVT COLLECT ALOT OF MONEY FRM FOREIGN TRUCKS BT IT ENDS IN BY ELECTION
easier said than done. as a transnational driver i think it may not really be on all the abnormal trucks. i at times transport volumetric transit goods from rsa to drc of about 5.7 mtrs width with 4 escort vehicles. how and when will they expand the rail line or electric lines or whatever. govt should be talking of expanding existing roads to accomodate abnormal trucks and not this rhetoric.
What tribe is Yaluma. Unusual name.
Please do the work so that we start traveling by train. Dont just talk we want action as Zambians.
Peace and prosperity to mother Zambia.
yaluma is a bemba from chitimukulu in mungwi district, his father has a farm as you going from mungwi district to mabula village, the only house with electricity
Government is doing things right, can you imagine if this defunct MMD had all these plans. ZR could have been making a lot of revenue, TAZARA could have been more profitable, less accidents on the road more jobs and more money in people’s pockets. Give PF time to realize their dream in the interest of the country NOT those off shore oil deals by RB and his children, while Zambians are wallowing in abject poverty.