Govt implements bulk cargo order
GOVERNMENT has signed a Statutory Instrument (SI) which compels all transporters of bulk and heavy cargo to shift 30 percent of it to rail effective 30 days from yesterday.
The schedule of the commodities to be affected by the SI include copper-cobalt concentrates , sugar , coal, cement, fuel (both local and imported) and sulphur among others.
Currently, the rail sub sector is a minute market share of five percent to eight percent out of which only two percent is handled by the Zambian transporters.
Minister of Transport and Communications, Brian Mushimba, said the implementation of the SI would preserve the roads whose lifespan had reduced to five years.
Eng. Mushimba explained that the huge and unregulated shift to road had triggered an increase in the utilisation of the road transport causing traffic congestion, road damage and high road maintenance costs.
“In a bid to optimise the transport sector and promote the sustainability of tail sub sector, Government issue an SI which will make it mandatory for all transporters of bulk and heavy cargo to shift 30 percent of the cargo to fail. The SI will be effective in the 30 days,” he said.
He explained at a media briefing in Lusaka yesterday that Government had comprehensive consultative meetings before signing the SI saying all the stakeholders had agreed to the decision. Eng. Mushimba said Government would set up mandatory mechanisms to ensure that the SI was enforced.
“Government will revitalise the tail sector from the investment which will be from the heavy cargo. The implementation of the system will lead to, for the rail sub sector, there will be guaranteed volumes of cargo, increased revenue and efficiency in the rail operations,” he said.
He said he was confident that the Zambia Railway Limited (ZRL) and TAZARA were equal to the task to ensure the SI was a success.
He had since challenged the two institutions to ensure they operated efficiently and attract transporter to move their heavy cargo to more the 30 percent.
Eng. Mushimba also said Government would create dry ports for areas which did not have a daily line.
And ZRL chief executive officer, Christopher Musonda, projected that the sector would move about 1.3,000 tonnes of cargo by end of this year following the implementation of the SI.
Mr. Musonda said there were intentions to put up a rail line between Chingola and Angola as a way of supporting the SI.
“We are ready. It is a good challenge. ZLR will be able to be competitive and be able to attract more than the compelled 30 percent of cargo from stakeholders,” Mr. Musonda said.