Zambian senior official calls for efforts to transform cross-border railway

A visiting Zambian senior government official has called for concerted efforts from employees of Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) and other stakeholders to overcome challenges facing the railway line and make it profitable.

Yamfua Mukanga, Zambian Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications, said TAZARA should be transformed to bring economic benefits to both countries.

Speaking to TAZARA management and staff in Tanzania's commercial capital Dar Es Salaam, Mukanga urged the workers and other stakeholders to cherish TAZARA and hold it dear.

He spoke about the sacrifices made by the former leaders of Tanzania, Zambia and China, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, Kenneth Kaunda and Mao Zedong, whom he referred to as the founding fathers of the three countries as well as the founders of TAZARA.

"The challenge is on us to transform this company and turn it around because our founding fathers sacrificed a lot to establish TAZARA, which at the time was necessary for the survival of Zambia as a nation. At that time, when China agreed to assist, there was no other country that was willing to provide support in the construction of the railway," said Mukanga.

"It is, therefore, now our duty and obligation to see to it that TAZARA does not collapse and that the hitches that have characterized the company in the last few years are removed," he said.

The minister said the two governments were doing their best, on their part, to make sure that the financial needs and other necessary requirements were met in order to facilitate the resuscitation of the company.

"We appreciate what our Chinese counterparts have continued to do for TAZARA and we really value their support, but we have a big part to play as the owners of this railway and we are united in our resolve to resuscitate this company," Mukanga said.

The Managing Director of TAZARA Ronald Phiri said TAZARA had received several equipment in the last few months from China and was now expecting some working capital injection from the shareholders in order to get back to normal operations.

Phiri said that the equipment received included two shunting locomotives, various rescue and lifting equipment, four track trolleys, assorted spare parts and 30,000 pieces of wooden sleepers. In addition, four new mainline locomotives and 18 new passenger coaches were due to be received before the end of the year.

TAZARA was constructed as a turnkey project in the 1970s through an interest-free loan from China, with commercial operations starting in July 1976, covering 1,860 kilometers from Dar es Salaam in Tanzania to New Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia. Endi