Mr Musonda said in an interview recently that the agreement has the blessings of both the Zambian and Tanzanian governments at presidential level.
“We have concluded the agreement with TAZARA at the level of head of state where we have been allowed as Zambia Railways to run a train into Dar es salaam and TAZARA can also run their train into Lusaka or Kitwe,” he said.
Mr Musonda said the agreement will help both firms deliver goods and services to clients even in areas where their respective railway lines do not reach.
He said the two companies are currently working on operationalising the agreement to enable it take effect by the end of July this year.
“We will start running trains to Chozi and then come back. We need some technical adjustments for us to be able to go to Dar es salaam. As you may know, the hills are very steep in Tanzania as you approach Iringa and Mbeya,” he said.
Mr Musonda said the importance of rail transport to the economy cannot be overemphasised because its strength lies in bulk haulage.
He said an efficient railway system can help smoothen the logistics chain for land-linked countries such as Zambia by ensuring a huge amount of goods reach the port in good time.
Mwikayatusebanya ku chalo chabene.
Now, this is what I call “innovative thinking”. This will make the flow of bulk easier, and cost-efficient. A guy in Kitwe can import his goods from the Middle-East to the port of Dar; the goods will be put on the train and come directly to Kitwe, or Lusaka. Well-done, Chris!!
Good move, long over due. 40 odd years over the due date. I have been to Dar by plane, train and by bus. Standards need to be better, improved. I remember the MOSI i had in Serenje when the train had stopped and a game of pool just after Iringa. But great scenery, good people on both sides of the border.
What is innovative about something that should been done 25 years ago?
Tazara has been around from 1975 and Zambia Railways a lot more than 50 years… and we are initiating this today? Interesting!
Have they fixed Tazara lines? When watched a documentary on YouTube called “China in Africa” derailment of locomotives was the norm as lines are poor even ZRL lines were not 100% repaired with that $120m Eurobond.