Railway boost

RAILWAY transport provides the most reliable and convenient mode of conveying bulk cargo for Zambia.

Being a landlocked country, Zambia requires a reliable railway network to the ports as the country works towards increasing export volumes for sustainable economic growth.

Transportation of heavy duty equipment into the country for the mining, construction and other sectors can be conveniently done through a reliable and secure railway network.

Therefore, Government’s decision to compel transportation of 30 percent bulk and heavy cargo by rail will translate into tangible benefits for the country and railway sector in particular. This will also reduce pressure on the road network.

The roads would have otherwise continued to buckle under the massive weight of “abnormal” loads that have become a regular feature on busy highways.

In the meantime, the two railway firms in the country require a major facelift to infrastructure and machinery while a new lease of life is a must for both managements.

Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority (Tazara) which was once the country’s lifeblood in terms of imports and exports is teetering on knife edge while Zambia Railways Limited is equally not free from operational challenges.

Tazara has had debilitating problems to the extent of failing to finance salaries and statutory obligations. In certain instances, the firm has reneged on customer requirements.

The firm, which runs the more than 1,800-km rail track requires massive financial upscale for the rehabilitation of the rail track, signals, the rolling stock and telecommunications facilities.

This is a vital project linking the Southern and Central African States with the Eastern Coast to the Port of Dar-es-salaam in Tanzania which urgently needs redemption so that it can once again stand as a reliable and efficient lifeline of Zambia’s economy.

Apart from offering cargo transportation, Tazara has proved to be an affordable mode of travel for passengers and entrepreneurs between Zambia and Tanzania and through to high trade centres in Asia.

Zambia Railways on the other hand, must shore up its operations to provide a reliable route for bulk cargo to the port at the southern end of the African continent. Its level of indebtedness is not as grim as Tazara’s.

The firm experienced a deep decline when it was under concession with the Railway Systems of Zambia which was nullified five years ago. It has recorded substantial growth in traffic volumes thus far.

Zambia Railways must continue to exploit business on the Nacala Corridor and also significantly revive the inter-mine services to deeply tap into business opportunities in the mining sector especially that copper is now fetching above $7,000 per tonne.

Government must thus resolutely enforce the quota system of allocating 30 percent cargo haulage to the railway sector while at the same time keeping an eagle’s eye through respective Boards on Tazara and Zambia Railways operations.

The quota system will only be successful if the railway sub-sector is evenly efficient and secure to satisfy customer needs. All encumbrances must be removed forthwith.

In fact, mining and other firms would be comfortable to transport their cargo through the railway system as long as it is faster, reliable, efficient and secure. They will be able to move large quantities of cargo at once.

This will give latitude to Government to continue with the countrywide road rehabilitation programme with ease.

The lifespan of the road network will be much more durable as there will be less bulk cargo while traffic flow will equally improve on busy roads that are currently choked with vehicles big and small.

It will be prudent to expedite the operationalisation of the Railway Development Agency (RDA) as announced by Transport and Communication Minister Brian Mushimba last year.

The agency will be handling the construction and upgrade of the railway infrastructure so that Zambia Railways concentrates on its core business of operating the railway and raising sufficient revenues.

Thus Tazara and Zambia Railways must be boosted now for the quota system to be successful.