Tanzania President John Magufuli has ordered the Treasury to probe 15.3 billion shillings ($6.65 million) paid by the government over two years to revive operations of TAZARA which links the commercial capital of Dar es Salaam to neighboring Zambia.
The Presidency said in an emailed statement that the funds were allocated to buy seven new locomotives to increase cargo capacity by 400,000 tonnes, refurbish tracks and improve aging infrastructure.
Instead, the railway is only handling 250,000 tonnes of cargo annually.
The 1,860 kilometre railway known as Tazara needs 19 new locomotives and 700 wagons to ferry passengers to return to profitability, according to the statement.
He issued the order when he made a stopover at Tazara Main Station in Dar es Salaam before he boarded the train on his way to Kisaki, Morogoro Region, a trip that will also take him to Rufiji, Coast Region where he is today expected to lay the foundation stone for the historic Rufiji Power Project.
According to President Magufuli, the Act that established Tazara denied either partner (Tanzania and Zambia) a chance to make any investment initiatives single handedly, a situation that also made it difficult to make any reforms in running the authority.
The president directed that the documents with proposals for the legal framework changes be sent to the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication to be submitted to his office within this week.
In order to revamp the authority, the two heads of state directed attorneys general of the two countries to meet and review the legal framework of the 1975 Tazara Act to accommodate changes and make it commercially viable and attractive to private players.
President Magufuli met with his Zambian counterpart, Edgar Lungu, to discuss among other issues, Tazara’s long-standing woes in November 2016.
He said their decision was aimed at restoring Tazara’s ability to serve its customers, noting that in 1976, Tazara transported five million tonnes of cargo annually, but due to low investment causing lack of engines and wagons, the figure had dropped to less than 300,000 as of last year.
“It was agreed that it was essential to review and restructure the legal frameworks so that any side that wants to invest can do so without hindrance,” he pointed out, adding: “Currently, neither country can invest without the consent of the other, but must do so together. We must restructure the laws; Tazara is for both countries but legal provisions should allow any of the two countries to be able to conduct investment activities.” The process is taking too long; the matter is supposed to be treated urgently for Tazara to survive, he noted.
“We will not abandon Tazara; it is the realization of the thoughts of our founders (Kenneth Kaunda and Mwalimu Julius Nyerere) aided by China; this is in their memory. Tazara will never die in our hands,” he stated.
He further urged the Tazara management to make sure that they help their workers, noting that they were frustrated even though they did not want to voice their problems presumably because of fear.
“The workers look burdened with problems, so sit with them and solve their problems and draw my attention to the ones that will not be settled,” he directed.
Tazara Managing Director Engineer Bruno Ching’andu and TAZARA’s Regional General Manager for Tanzania, Mr Fuad Abdallah, affirmed that they had received the directives of restructuring the legal framework and had already submitted the proposals to the ministry.
“The process has been completed at the level of experts and attorneys general in both countries; what is pending is the ministerial level, for the cabinet paper to be submitted and be decided upon,” said Mr Abdallah.
that’s the caliber of a leader who’s serious about getting to the bottom of issues
not this guy we have who just says things that he doesn’t believe it. rather than being the one spearheading some of the allegations even when they are brought to his attention, he deflects them to other departments, then silly issues that he shouldn’t even be a part of is seen to be leading those minor activities that ought to be left to local authorities. why is he even there when he’s incapable of rising to the occasion and handling real issues when the Zambian masses are crying and looking for direction
This is a President who cares about prudent spending and results …in Zambia we have this lazy bum called Edgar he is happy to commission a Medical Stores Warehouse costing a whooping $15million or a Toll Gate costing $5million…the lazy man will even smile with pride!!
This is what a president should be looking into to fix , things that do not work……
Not our lungu , if he is not campaigning he is answering silly questions on airport runways or holding summits that have full of pipe dreams of would or could or it is possible
Imwe ba fikala, can’t you read that the two presidents met over the issue during one of the sadc summit s, and obviously it was ecl’s agenda being a brilliant lawyer! Insala!
Imwe, can’t you read that the two presidents met over the issue during one of the sadc summit s, and obviously it was ecl’s agenda being a brilliant lawyer! Insala!
Pompos – If they met why is Lazy not doing the same…they met to discuss the poor state of TAZARA…really laughable you think a playboy like Edgar would be worried about “small” figure when he is unconcerned about 42X42…this is an utterly reckless irresponsible bum we are talking about here!!
This is true leadership by Magufuli not when issue of corruption is mentioned you start making excuses about false allegations on innocent ministers. On the Zambian side its quiet as $6.5 million is pocket change to these thieves they steal over $10 million nowadays..very reckless!!
I hear Magufuli has done wonders in Tanzania. He’s brought sanity in that land. The development of any nation largely depends on leadership, not where a leader is just talking about a certain tribe. The way Magufuli is working, that’s how a leader is supposed to work. Having a positive effect on the people.
As a result of his leadership and prudence this country is undertaking constructing of a $2 billion Hydo-electric dam which they will fund themselves
Mzee Magufuli, people from TZ are grafters.
When you as President instruct the Ministry of Finance to probe you are letting them investigate everyone in that company, people will be sweating even govt companies that are not involved will think twice about stealing…if its our man Edgar he would have appointed thieves like Kampyongo, Kaizer, Vincent Mwale, even boss of Tazara to investigate themselves.
‘He issued the order when he made a stop over at Tazara Main Station in Dar es Salam before he boarded the train on his way to Kisaki…..’. I doubt if our President can do this to have a feel of what we go through as we travel on our public transport systems
Great leadership – all aimed at bettering the lives of his people. Why cant we emulate such leadership kanshi??? Especially here at home. Just vowing that HH will never be president as if he is a god himself to say HH will never be a president of Zambia. Waisted years under Matawere. By the way even Sata said same thing – that under his dead body would Mwanawasa be the president of Zambia. But surprise surprise Mwanawasa became the president of Zambia when Sata was still alive then!
What a disaster for us all!!!!
In Zambia the opposite would happen instead of a probe the President would instruct the Treasury to pay that $6.7m to cover up
Great leadership – all aimed at bettering the lives of his people. Why cant we emulate such leadership kanshi??? Especially here at home. Just vowing that HH will never be president as if he is a god himself to say HH will never be a president of Zambia. Waisted years under Matawere. By the way even Sata said same thing – that under his dead body would Mwanawasa be the president of Zambia. But surprise surprise Mwanawasa became the president of Zambia when Sata was still alive then!
What a disaster for us all!!!!
Lazy Lungu can never be angry without being pressurized especially about wastage….he would rather be on a by election platform campaigning and talking about nonsense. This man from Tanzania has managed to get back billions from the investors who were ripping off his country.
Pragmatic leadership that do not leave any stones unturned. The fight against corruption needs political will. Politicians should leave a legacy of clean governance when they leave office. Posterity should be able to write a good book about each and every politicians who leave the office. Kaunda and Mwanawasa will be the only presidents who will be remembered for their resilience against corruption. They fought the scourge with the vigour and tenacity. When books of History are re written about Zambia’s fight against corruption, these names will never be forgotten. They fought it such that they even lost closest friends. They created a lot of enemies owing to the zeal and political will they designed in the fight against corruption.They provided exceptional leadership.
President Magufuli riding on TAZARA train to a region? This is what we can call austerity measures. Practicing what he is preaching. We need more such humility in our leaders. And I hope this is genuine humility. So far he has shown that he means business. He travels economy and shares an apartment with workers to save tax payer’s money. An example just across our northern border that our leader must emulate.
Our leaders..not our leader. ALL LEADERS!
Strange name for someone so enlightened and smart. Pombe is alcohol in kiswahili
I like this President he unlike bitter hakiende h rose from the grassroots he didn’t inherit a viable party and reduce it to an under 5 kindergarden but has placed it high over the shoulders of many a foe. Accountant and boardroom bitter hakiende h would do well to take a leaf on how leadership is mastered its not through giving cheap ‘advise’ on how to privatize a nations treasures but hard work mixing with the lowest of low understanding their problems and then coming up with a business plan and not some ten point jigsaw puzzle that cannot work even pa chingungulu
YOU mean Abene ba Chisushi has learnt a thing or two from Magufuli? and is now much better than HH? Which country are you from?
At last a African President who is working with sense….. not like some others… Who don’t know what to do…